Isabel Estate is one of the original Marlborough vineyards with some of the oldest vines in the region on original rootstock. In 1980, and with a bird’s eye view, pilot Mike Tiller discovered a precious pocket of land, and the beginning of one of the pioneering Marlborough wineries was born. Mike and his wife Robyn built a winery on the site and named it in honour of Mike’s mother, Isabel. Throughout the 1980s the couple planted key noble varietals and began to deliver fruit of exceptional quality, in high demand from premium and internationally renowned wine producers. In 2001 Mike’s mother, Isabel, coerced him into abandoning his flying career to focus on the estate.
Their ambition was to produce ultra-premium classic grape varieties that were a true expression of Marlborough as the chosen parcel of land delivered fruit of exceptional quality. The chosen parcel of land delivered fruit of exceptional quality, and it wasn’t long before it was in high demand from premium and internationally renowned New Zealand wine producers. In the natural order of things Isabel Estate released its single-vineyard wine in 1994, the Isabel Estate Pinot. Under the leadership of Chief Winemaker Jeremy McKenize, the winery continues to build its reputation for award-winning Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir but is also producing world-class Chardonnay. Testament to this, Isabel Estate has won multiple trophies in recent years with notable highlights being Champion Chardonnay and Best Marlborough Wine, NZ Wine of the Year Competition 2019 for the 2018 Wild Barrique Chardonnay as well as Champion Pinot Noir 2017, Marlborough Wine Show 2018 for the 2017 Isabel Estate Pinot Noir.
Each individual hand pick was stored separately to maintain individuality and selection opportunity for later blending. The fruit was fermented into 4-tonne stainless steel tanks with a significant portion of wild ferment. It was then held cold for seven days prior to fermentation to help extract flavour components and to enhance colour stability. A selection of tanks contained 15-20% whole clusters, in which bunches were added to the fermentation to add a stems component and offer a further layer of complexity.
The fermentation process transpired over 7-10 days at a temperature peak of 32°C where the wine becomes dry. Post this period the wines are left on the skins to macerate and develop supple sinew-like tannins before the wine was pressed, then transferred to a mixture of 35 per cent new French oak and older seasoned 228-litre oak barriques. The barrels were regularly tasted during maturation until the desired balance and flavour profile was achieved. During this time in oak, the young wine completed natural malolactic fermentation. The wine was then carefully extracted from oak, blended and prepared for bottling.
Country
New Zealand
Region
Marlborough
Producer
Isabel Estate
Grape
Pinot Noir
Size
750ml
Types
Red Wine
Vintage
2022
