Isabel Estate Pinot Gris

Pale straw in colour. The bouquet shows sweet hints of spice notes, rich nectar juice, rose petals, white peach and creamy mixture of stone fruit with slightly acidic green apples notes. This gently perfumed palate has varietal characteristics of pear drops; it has good definition and a rounded mouth feeling, soft viscosity due to gentle lees stirring. The finish shows complexity and aromatic flavours, ripe touch tropical fruit, luscious aromas of almond and subtle rose.

Located in the Wairau Valley in the heart of Marlborough, Isabel Vineyard receives the full benefit of extended sunshine hours combined with a long, relatively cool growing season. Back in the early 1980s most people looking to buy a vineyard in Marlborough were happy to purchase any apparently suitable land. Mike and Robyn Tiller on the other hand were way ahead of their time in searching for a very specific site that would enable them to create something really special. They eventually found the ideal site on higher ground to the south of the valley on the banks of the Omaka River. Here the river had washed out varied soil particles for thousands of years creating a fine, fascinating terroir. In addition to the importance of vineyard site, the Tillers also realised the importance of high vineyard density at a time when many producers in warmer climes where planting vine rows as wide apart as possible. After special tractors were imported from Italy to handle the unusually narrow rows in the Isabel vineyard, cultivation began and superb grapes soon resulted. Isabel is not only one of the largest family owned vineyards in Marlborough, it also has some of the oldest vines in the area producing exceptional quality grapes and wines.