*** Bronze Medal at The Air New Zealand Wine Awards *** Country: New Zealand Region: Marlborough Varietal: Pinot Noir Vintage: 2018 Colour: Red Style: Dry Producer: Opawa  Description: The Opawa River formed the gravel soils that make up the Marlborough Winegrowing heartland which includes the Nautilus Opawa Vineyard, and lead to the ripe, juicy structure of this wine. Building on Nautilus' reputation as one of the region's most respected producers of Pinot Noir, and its specialised Pinot Noir winemaking facility, Opawa meets a demand for a top quality, mid price pinot.   Winemaking & Viticulture:  This wine was made from selected premium vineyards in our dedicated Pinot Noir Cellar using principles of minimal handling and gravity flow. After a cold soak and indigenous fermentation the wine was pressed into French oak barriques for maturation, before being clarified and bottled in February 2015   Tasting Note: A medium bodied and beautifully balanced Marlborough Pinot Noir. The nose shows fruit characters of black cherries and red plums with savoury spices and a hint of toasty oak. Elegant and juicy on the palate, it displays red fruit flavours and hints of liquorice accompanied by soft, fine tannins. This wine has an elegant structure, silky texture and juicy acidity to give freshness, and it culminates in a lingering finish.   Food matching : Game birds / Pork / Tomato