SPOTLIGHT ON: Nautilus White 2020 Domaine Foivos

Kefalonia, Greece

Bone dry in character with almost a peaty aroma that gives way to orange blossom, honey and minerality, then nuances of exotic fresh fruit – think melon, peach, dried pears.  Mouth-watering on the palate and a very long finish.

The Foivos winery was originally one of the oldest wineries in Greece.  These days, the wines are farmed organically and bio-dynamically.  They also experiment with fermentation in amphora containers and ageing under water.

The 2020 vintage was intensely hot, resulting in early ripening of a small but excellent crop.  The vineyard sits at about 200m above sea level and benefits from cooling ocean breezes that keep disease at bay.  The wine was gently filtered prior to bottling, then submerged under fresh water for further ageing.  The thinking behind submersion is that constant temperature, darkness and lack of oxygen may well promote greater stability in the wine.  Either way, Nautilus is one to watch, as observed by the likes of Jancis Robinson and Robert Parker.