2018 Nautical Dawn Chenin Blanc
Market price
Buying options
Tasting notes
Displaying with a pale straw color, the 2018 Nautical Dawn is immediately impressive with citrus blossom elements blown by sea spray, Meyer lemon pith, green apple skin and a significant mineral expression that makes this wine utterly electric in the glass. Medium-bodied but full in flavor, the wine bursts to life with zippy, energetic acidity that will allow this to age for more than a decade. Underneath the dusty citrus tones and soft salinity, flavors of lemon pastry cream wade across the palate, displaying masterful elegance and balance. The wine draws me back for more as the finish somersaults and evolves from more than a minute. This is serious winemaking at hand. Bravo! It is devastatingly gorgeous and food friendly.
Critic scores
Average Score
Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
Neal Martin
More reviews and scores
The 2018 Nautical Dawn comes from Stellenbosch, around False Bay. It has a captivating bouquet of orange pith, mirabelle and light sea spray aromas that are clinically defined. The palate is beautifully balanced with a pithy nectarine and clementine opening, dovetailing into gorgeous mango and spicy notes toward the lively, quite penetrating finish. Stunning.
Vines planted 1978 on granite but right by the sea (Sinai). Very clean-cut citrus aroma. Both mineral and saline, even a little smoky. On the palate, there’s stunning clementine freshness and a cool silky texture even though the aroma is chalky. Fluid and salty on the finish. (JH)