Marlborough is known for their Sauvignon Blanc but their success is enabling wineries to explore other varietals and, as it turns out, Pinot Noir is becoming a huge winner. Ben Morven, Brancott, Omaka, Fairhall and Waihopai are, as a group, known as the Southern Valleys subregion of Marlborough. The Southern Valleys have traditional silt and gravel soils but also have more clay than other Marlborough regions. The region also benefits from cold air descending from the nearby hills, enabling grapes like Pinot Noir to ripen later in the season, protecting their naturally higher acidity, and enabling more complex flavors. Nautilus’ 2019 is fresh with tart pomegranate, bramble, and underbrush notes with a unique graphite undertone. While driven by fruit, its earthy savory notes are key complexities making this wine sufficiently complex for a Pinot Noir lover’s palate.
90 Vince Simmon
Nautilus, Southern Valleys – Marlborough (New Zealand) Pinot Noir 2019 ($36, Winebow)
By Vince Simmon
