Selected for the Fine Wines of New Zealand List
Nautilus Marlborough Cuvee is consistently rated as one of New Zealand's very best bubblies. It has had fantastic ratings from critics and wine shows worldwide, numerous top listings in Cuisine and selected for the 2020 Fine Wines of New Zealand List. Made in the traditional method from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay it is aged on its lees for at least three years to develop delicious biscuity toasty flavours before being disgorged.
Winery notes (NV)
"The Nautilus Cuvée Marlborough Brut NV is pale straw in colour with a fine bead and creamy mousse. The wine has a distinctive nutty bouquet, which shows the richness of a Pinot Noir dominant blend and the benefits of extended maturation. An elegant finely structured wine in which the fruit flavours harmonise with biscuity, yeast derived complexities and crisp acidity to give a lingering dry finish."
5 Stars Michael Cooper, October 2021 (NV)
"Recent releases of this non-vintage, bottle-fermented sparkling have revealed an intensity and refinement that positions the label among the finest in the country. Made with Pinot Noir (mostly) and Chardonnay, it is blended with older reserve stocks held in old oak barriques and disgorged after a minimum of three years aging on its yeast lees. Rich, piercing, crisp and long, it's a beautifully tight, vivacious and refined wine, its vibrant Marlborough fruit characters enriched with intense, bready aromas and flavours. The sample I tasted in October 2021 was – as the back label indicates helpfully – disgorged in May 2021. Bright, light lemon/green, it is very finely balanced, with rich, vigorous, peachy, slightly citrusy flavours, yeasty and toasty notes adding complexity, and a long finish."
5 Stars & 95/100 Bob Campbell MW, The Real Review, March 2020 (NV)
"Pinot Noir-dominant Méthode with three years on the yeast lees in bottle. Citrus, ginger and nut flavours with a strong biscuity yeast lees influence and an ethereal texture. An impressively complex Champagne-like wine."
Rated Excellent & 94/100 Cameron Douglas MS, October 2020 (NV)
"Pristine, fresh, pure, savoury and delicately complex. Citrus, white peach, fresh red apple, savoury and fine. The autolysis is quite intense with toasted brioche and oaty flavours then savoury and complex. Tense and youthful, explosive mousse, long and dry. A lovely expression of bottled fermented sparkling wine. Balanced, crisp, refreshing and ready. best drinking from today and through 2025+."
Rebecca Gibb MW, January 2019 (NV)
"Nutty and brioche-like showing its lees time and use of reserve wines. Rich on the mid palate with plenty of concentration on the mid palate. The warmer climes and sun of Marlborough showing in its riper fruit expression – red fruit and some caramelised pineapple. Fine balanced acidity and a textural conclusion."
4 Stars & 90/100 NZ Wine Rater, March 2022 (NV Vintage)
"Pale lemon colour with a fine bead. Lifted, aromatic, with apple, pear skin and melon fruit characters and fresh bread / white pepper lees influence. Clean, crisp, lighter-weight, easy drinking style with positive textural elements, gala apple flavours and a tangy, zesty finish."