Nautilus Estate Southern Valleys Pinot Noir 2017

94 POINTS

James Suckling

Boldness and refinement at work here; it really impresses with rich dark cherries, boldly spicy oak and a very attractively focused and punchy drive on the palate. Drink now, but better in a few years.

94 POINTS

Anne Krebiehl MW - Falstaff

A most subtle nose of tart, red but ripe cherry with a most lovely notion of autumnal oak leaf and delicious earthiness – clearly this has had some bottle age. This shows how the essential Pinot-ness shines through once the primary fruit holds back. The mid-palate brims with pristine, bight cherry and vivid freshness, fine tannins still have a firm crunch. The finish is pure, fresh, lasting and touching.

92 POINTS

Rebecca Gibb MW - Vinous

The 2017 Pinot Noir (Southern Valleys) is drinking beautifully now with its fairly complex, brooding style and core of concentrated fruit. It’s fresh with fine, polished tannins that coat the mouth. You can expect cherry, plum, licorice, subtle vanilla notes and Christmas spices. While this is entering a lovely window of early maturation, it will drink well up to its 10th birthday and perhaps beyond.

91 POINTS

Joe Czerwinski - Robert Parker Wine Advocate

To its considerable credit, the 2017 Southern Valleys Pinot Noir avoids the tutti-frutti excesses of many Marlborough Pinot Noirs, offering earthy notes, black cherries and a dusting of cinnamon and clove. It's medium to full-bodied, with ample concentration, softly dusty tannins and a lingering finish.

Rebecca Gibb MW - Vinous

Enthusiastically oaked and a touch reductive on the nose, so be sure to give this a good swirl-a-roo or a decant to blow off those onion skin characters. There's plentiful oak-derived toast and spice meeting the juicy red fruit, which has been made even more buoyant through a portion of whole-berry fermentation. While light-bodied, this wine has an unexpectedly impressive structure, potentially from the whole cluster (18%) portion, creating a dry and sappy, tannic finish. It's both fresh and firm and needs a hunk of meat to match those tannins, or more bottle age.

Wine Spectator

Decidedly herbal, featuring fragrant and fresh green notes of thyme and sage, giving way to dense cherry and spiced plum flavors. Offers a juicy thread of acidity and firm, toothsome tannins.

Christina Pickard - Wine Enthusiast

This wine may have suffered in the somewhat tricky 2017. Sulfuric, reductive funk sits over the top and takes lots of time in the glass and vigorous swirling to blow off. When it does, pleasant notes of blueberry and cherry jam, mushroom, and woody spice reveal themselves. The palate is a little discordant, too. Medium to full bodied, the plush yet juicy fruit is abundant, but acidity feels forced. Taut, drying tannins hold it all together.