Tasting Notes

An Elegant Sauvignon Blanc, this vibrant wine is bursting with flavours including ripe gooseberry, passion fruit, fresh citrus lime and has an exotic herbaceous aroma, subtle intensity of herbaceous and fresh grass as well as exotic fruit like star fruit. The weighty palate and exquisitely soft texture is rounded out with other layers too, along with very fresh balanced acidity. Beautiful complexity of the wine has an exciting palate with layers of juicy flavours, intensity and fullness, finishing with a refreshing crisp, clean and racy acidity.

Technical Notes

• Vineyard:Isabel Estate. Block 5, 6, 7, & 8
• Variety: Sauvignon Blanc Clones: UCD 1 and 2, BDX 316 and 317, 5385
• Harvest Date:12 April -5 May 2011
• Bottling Date:21st September 2011
• Harvest Analysis:Brix 21-23
• Acid 6,5 – 9 g/l
• PH 3,0-3, 4
• Wine Analysis
• 13. 1 % alcohol
• 7.9 g/l TA
• 3.25 pH
• 3 g/l Residual Sugar

Reviews

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Estate Profile

Isabel Estate is a very special place. Quite unique in the broader context of the Marlborough regions.

The Tiller family were pioneers of the area, seeing the potential long before those that have followed. Mike Tiller, as an Air New Zealand pilot, had the distinct advantage of having an almost daily aerial view of the beautiful Wairau Valley in Marlborough, and hence the opportunity to identify the optimum sites for vineyard development.

The entire estate is hand pruned and handpicked which is no longer the norm in the region. All vineyard blocks are close planted with low trellised rows, with a vine density which is almost twice the average for the region. Yields are further restricted by pruning to low bud numbers and where necessary, shoot and bunch thinning.
Arch cane pruning, again an anomaly in the region, ensures even ripeness. Sustainable viticultural practices maintain vineyard health and soil nutrition, using a combination of mulching and organic fish based fertilizer.

There is no doubt these factors create the wonderful natural intensity and concentration of flavor that is the distinctive hallmark of the Isabel Estate wines. All wines are 100% Estate grown and produced. Testimony to the extraordinary development of the Marlborough region,
Isabel is now the largest remaining family owned Estate in Marlborough, with also some of the oldest vines in the region.

Isabel is very much a family affair. Established by Mike and Robyn, and named after Mike’s mother Isabel. Their sons and daughters, Brad, Luke, Caitlin and Jane are now all part of the Isabel Estate dynasty.

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