Isabel Estate Vineyard was established in 1982 to produce premium classical grape varieties in Marlborough. However, prior to the 1994 vintage, Proprietor Michael Tiller, then an airline pilot with Air New Zealand, together with his wife Robyn, operated Isabel Estate successfully as a contract grape growing vineyard supplying some of Marlborough's leading wine producers with much sought after premium fruit.
The character and individuality of their fruit derived from a unique soil profile and vineyard location encouraged them to produce and market their own wine under the Isabel Estate label. This was regarded as the most natural of evolutionary steps.
Isabel Estate aims to produce true 'estate' wines - wines produced only from vineyards under its total viticultural control. Isabel Estate endeavours to produce 'inspired wines that are a strong expression of the individual style and character as determined by the vineyard soil and site'.
The grapes were hand picked and gently whole bunch pressed. Tank-fermented cool in three portions, with three different yeasts, in order to develop a Pinot Gris with delicate finely balanced structure. There was minimal winemaking intervention, with no oak or malolactic influence, just a delicate expression of Pinot Gris fruit from the Isabel Vineyard.
This Pinot Gris is more finely structured and delicate than is often the case with Pinot Gris. With a floral and musk nose, and pale straw appearance, this wine will develop lovely secondary characters in bottle. The palate is silky, and finely textured, with a subtle acid backbone that should see the wine retain freshness and be a great companion to food. There are stone fruit and rose petal flavours that contrast with the subtle spice of this multi-layered wine.
