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Isabel Estate
Chardonnay
New Zealand, Marlborough, Marlborough
White
Winery Overview
In 1980, a pilot named Mike Tiller flew his plane over a block of land in the Wairau Valley of Marlborough that caught his eye. He discovered a precious pocket of land; a very special place of earth with fertile soil and a unique aspect. Mike's airborne vision was the beginning of Isabel Estate, one of the pioneering Marlborough wineries that unlocked the viticultural potential of the iconic wine region. It remains one of the oldest in the area. Mike and his wife Robyn built a winery on the site and named it in honor of his mother, Isabel. Their ambition was to produce ultra-premium classic grape varieties that were a true expression of Marlborough. Throughout the 1980s, their chosen parcel of land delivered fruit of exceptional quality, and it wasn't long before it was in high demand. In the natural order of things, Isabel Estate released its first single-vineayrd wine in 1994, a Pinot Noir.
Isabel Estate is located just outside of Renwick village in the Wairau Valley at the heart of Marlborough’s wine region. The site benefits from all the climate characteristics that make the Marlborough renowned including extended sunshine hours combined with a long, cool growing season. Its soils are free-draining gravels with a narrow layer of tight clay in the subsoil that prevents excess water loss. Densely planted vines, double the usual number in Marlborough, further contribute to the concentration of flavor in the fruit. Narrow row and close plant spacing increase competition creating small bunch and berry size for more flavor intensity and complexity.
Being one of the original Marlborough vineyards, Isabel Estate is a part of the heritage of the Marlborough wine region. Their small team is dedicated to a focus on single-estate wines that deliver on the expression of site and provenance. Isabel Estate stays true to its roots by creating wines that are 100% grown and bottled within the boundaries of its estate.
Marlborough experienced a windy summer, requiring early season watering to maintain canopy health. As summer progressed, the temperature cooled and inclement weather helped reduce yield naturally, which helped ensure optimal flavor and ripening potential. Viticultural expertise and perfect picking decisions rose to meet the challenge of heavy rainfall on several occasions during the season. As a result of the moderate flowering, we had evenly mature bunches with good berry numbers, although overall yield was down slightly on seasonal averages.
Vinification
Picking commenced and was completed in the last two weeks of March, taking advantage of intermittent dry spells in the weather to ensure the fruit was picked with good fruit concentration and ripeness. In some blocks multiple picks were carried out, picking some fruit earlier to capture freshness and acidity, and the remaining fruit later to capture some of the riper fruit notes Chardonnay is known for. All fruit was whole bunch pressed and settled in tank overnight before being transferred to barrel for fermentation. Predominately wild fermented with a small portion inoculated to enhance fruit notes. Extended time of lees in barrel allows the wine to soften and increase in complexity over time.
Displaying a brilliant straw and lime tinted hue, the wine delivers a fragrant and complex medley of white nectarine and gun smoke complemented by underlying notes of flint, vanilla bean and toasty aromas. The palate displays restraint and is tightly woven with hints of French oak, creating a wine with class and evolution with bottle age.
