• French oak
• Red cherry
• Wild flowers
• Rich & vibrant

A mesmerising ruby-red hue sets the stage for an aromatic experience that unfolds with a symphony of wild flowers, fragrant violets, and lively red cherry notes.The palate reveals rich flavours, with the essence of blackcherry, and dried herbs weaving together seamlessly. Sinewy tannins, expertly integrated French oak, and athoughtful blending process result in a wine with aprolonged and seductive finish. While alluring in its youthful vibrancy, the wine possesses the potential to evolve into a hidden gem with age, acquiring additional layers of complexity over time.

Isabel Estate is located just outside of Renwick village in the Wairau Valley occupying 54 hectares with 45 of those dedicated to vineyard under canopy. The site benefits from all the climate characteristics that make Marlborough renowned. There is a focus on small-batch winemaking giving greater options at blending and helping to create complex wines with a sense of place. Sustainable viticultural practices are used including mulching and organic fertilisers, to maintain soil nutrition while spraying is kept to a minimum.

Each individual hand pick clone was stored separately tomaintain individuality and selection opportunity for laterblending. The fruit was fermented into 4-tonne stainless steel tanks with a significant portion of wild ferment. Itwas then held cold for seven days prior to fermentation to help extract flavour components and to enhance colour stability. A selection of tanks contained 10% whole clusters, in which bunches were added to the fermentation to add a stem 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 beforethe wine was pressed, then transferred to a mixture of 30per 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.

Established in 1980 Isabel Estate is one of the original Marlborough vineyards and part of the fabric that is the heritage of the Marlborough wine region. Isabel's small and dedicated team is 100% focused on single estate wines that deliver on the expression of site and provenance.