May 7, 2021 is International Sauvignon Blanc Day, started in 2010 by St. Supéry Estate Vineyards & Winery in Napa, but has been embraced fully by New Zealand, which has a very distinct style of Sauvignon Blanc. The Marlborough region in New Zealand is the most well-known location for producing Sauvignon Blanc. This grape does grow around the world, including British Columbia, as well as its home in the Sancerre region of France.
I opened a bottle of Nautilus Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2019 from Marlborough to celebrate this day. According to the winery, “This was an unrushed harvest compared to the previous 2 years and reflected our desire to pick smaller parcels of fruit and we have captured a great range of flavours and aromas. Vintage 2019 will be remembered for low to moderate crops, pristine fruit and a busy but very satisfying harvest period.”
Their winemaking notes described the 2019 wine as, “…machine harvested at night or in the cool of the morning, gently crushed and pressed then fermented with a variety of aromatic yeast strains in stainless steel tanks – the sole aim being to reflect and preserve the flavours and aromas grown in the vineyard. 5% of the juice was fermented with a nonsaccharomyces yeast. After fermentation, the wine was kept in contact with the lees for three months.”
Nautilus Estate Wines is part of the New Zealand Sustainable Winegrowing program and their wine is also vegan friendly.
My Wine Tasting Notes
Nautilus Estate Wines Sauvignon Blanc 2019 (BC $26.98)
Appearance: Very bright intense lemon colour with a green tint.
Nose: A pronounced intensity nose with aromas of lemon, honey, toast, grapefruit, some grape stem, and a hint of peach. No change with decanting.
Palate: Dry with a high level of searing acidity and some acidic prickle, but does have some roundness to it. Lots of citrus fruit, grapefruit, some grape stem, and salty minerality. Same flavours and acidic intensity after decanting.
Finish: A long length finishing with mouthwatering acidity and primarily citrus fruit, but you do get a touch of apricot at the very end.
A wine that can easily age 5-7 years. If you do open it now, pair it with a seafood dish that works well with a citrus zing to it. If you are a cheese lover, have with goat cheese.
Rating: 
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A Sauvignon Blanc with pronounced citrus aromas and flavours, and pronounced acidity. Can age, but if you drink it now, have it with seafood or goat cheese.
Where Can I Buy This Wine?
Everything Wine carries this wine. The wine is available at other private wine shops, but you need to ask.
