Rich Marlborough Chardonnay Guided by a Generation of Nautilus Winemaking

Creamy nectarine, butterscotch and vanilla oak give the 2022 Nautilus Marlborough Chardonnay its generous personality. This is a white for lovers of texture and savoury dinners: full-flavoured, rounded and particularly inviting alongside golden, herb-roasted chicken.

My Wine Man on Nautilus

Nautilus offers a different side of Marlborough to the region's familiar Sauvignon Blanc: Chardonnay with richness, texture and a clear oak signature. Long-serving winemaker Clive Jones brings a generation of experience at Nautilus to that style, and the 2022 shows why experience matters when a vintage is less than straightforward.

Rain made the 2022 growing season a demanding one in Marlborough. Rather than pretending this is a lean, fruit-only expression, we like it for what it delivers: ripe nectarine, creamy depth and a pronounced vanilla-oak character. Its appeal lies in the interplay between fruit and winemaking, with enough acidity and a little oak-derived grip to give the richness shape. If your preferred Chardonnay is rounded and comforting rather than steely, this belongs on your shortlist.

Tasting Notes

Full gold in the glass. The nose is generous, bringing together butterscotch, vanilla and custard-like richness. Ripe nectarine leads the palate, with a creamy texture and vanilla oak woven through the fruit.

This is an opulent expression rather than a sharply citrus-driven one. Acidity provides balance without dominating, while gentle oak tannins add definition to the rounded palate. Creamed stone fruit and warm oak notes carry the finish.

Style & Drinking Window

A dry, medium- to full-bodied Chardonnay with a creamy texture, prominent oak influence and a gentle oak-derived tannic grip. Our suggested drinking window is 2026–2028, enjoying it now for its generous fruit and developed richness rather than buying for extended cellaring. Serve around 10–12°C, avoiding an ice-cold pour that would hide its texture. No formal decanting is needed; allow 10–15 minutes in the glass if served straight from the fridge.

Food Pairing

The creamy nectarine, butterscotch richness and vanilla-oak character of the 2022 Nautilus Marlborough Chardonnay make it a generous match for Australian Frozen The Bare Bird Premium Free Range Chicken Thigh Fillet from My Meat Man. The wine's ripe stone-fruit flavours complement the chicken thighs' succulent texture, while its creamy depth suits a buttery sauce and its oak notes echo the savoury flavour of a golden sear. Try the fillets oven-roasted with lemon and thyme, pan-seared with a light cream sauce, or grilled with garlic and herbs. Keep chilli and sweetness restrained so the wine's richer, more delicate details can shine.

Why This Is a Smart Buy

At HK$199, this is an appealing choice for anyone who wants Chardonnay with genuine richness and a clearly expressed oak character. You are buying a generous, dinner-friendly style, not a lean alternative to Chablis. Its creamy nectarine and butterscotch profile makes an everyday chicken dinner feel more considered, without requiring a special-occasion budget.

Looking for a Different Style?

• 2024 Simonnet Febvre Chablis Villages – A brighter Chardonnay direction, with lemon, crisp apple and saline freshness.
• 2022 Domaine William Fevre Chablis – Taut, mineral Chardonnay with citrus zest, white peach and flinty precision.
• 2024 Pikes The Merle Reserve Riesling – A change of grape and region, offering racy lime, floral lift and crushed-rock intensity.