Latest news with #IsabelEstate
Otago Daily Times
24-06-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
NZ chardonnay going from strength to strength
I can't but help feeling (after tasting these wines amidst a bigger grouping) that Chardonnay in New Zealand is going from strength to strength. The lineup of ten wines scored consistently highly, were an absolute pleasure to taste and equally importantly, I'd simply love to drink any of them. Moreover, while prices are following the pattern of everything else and creeping up, they still remain remarkably affordable for their quality. While this group covers South Island regions, I've bought some marvellous wines from Martinborough and Hawke's Bay recently which just reinforce the level of quality that you find across the country. 2023 Riverby Estate Single Vineyard Marlborough Chardonnay RRP $28 Price Rating Excellent Nicely expressive nose, no doubt to the variety. Peach, nutty aspects, light oak seasoning, a flinty touch, fresh and appealing. There's a fine, almost grainy feel that just adds to the texture, cracking flavour depth with zestiness on the close leading to a delightfully fresh finish. Already drinking really well, but I feel there's more gas in the tank for the future too. 2022 Isabel Estate Wild Barrique Wairau Valley Chardonnay RRP $39.99 Price Rating Outstanding Distinctive wild yeast component initially, struck match, gunflint, peach and clotted cream developing, grilled nuts, spices, stony mineral, complex. Wonderful depth and while the nose suggests fatiness this has elegance and finesse. Great structure, super balance, wonderful carry, actually rather classy. Now a little orange zest, the wild yeast notes part, so much going on here. 2023 Riverby Estate Single Vineyard Old Vines Reserve Marlborough Chardonnay RRP $36 Price Rating Excellent to Outstanding Nose leaps out with caramel, full cream, oak spices, the ripe fruit perfectly pitched in support. Grip and chewiness to the texture, youthful and reminding you of its potential, time in the cellar will be a friend but already approachable as it manages that combination of balance, flavour depth, yet without anything overstated or out of place. Confident, elegant, cracking wine. 2022 Pegasus Bay Chardonnay RRP $45 Price Rating Excellent to Outstanding So much happening on the nose, wild yeast match and gunflint, honeyed aspects, spices, ripe peach, that flinty note turning mineral. Some toasty char leads the palate, peach, nectarine, bright lemony citrus, exuding quiet richness and depth. Power matched by brightness, fresh, vital, a lovely each way bet to enjoy now or tuck in the cellar. You can easily reach for another glass. 2023 Carrick Organic Bannockburn Chardonnay RRP $39 Price Rating Excellent No doubting the variety. Youthful, fresh, white peach, oak spices, a smoky nuance, fragrance swelling, with time a little earthy/ humus note adds to the complexity. Again on the palate that peach and spiciness clear to see, full of flavour yet a sense of freshness too with good structure and acid backbone keeping this nicely on point. Likely to reward the cellar yet it is drinking so well now. 2021 Pegasus Bay Virtuoso Chardonnay RRP $67 Price Rating Outstanding Exuberant nose jumps out to greet you. Gunflint, struck match, warm baguette, ripe peach, toffee apple, so engaging and complex. Power and wonderful depth of flavour without ever feeling heavy. Dances in the mouth, vibrancy and liveliness, now picking up a hint of licorice, though it's pointless divining the parts as it's all about balance, integration and the sheer completeness of this. Crackingly good.
Daily Mail
24-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
The 'wine of the year' is about to launch in Australia for $45.99 - but you'll have to move quickly if you want to score a bottle
A Chardonnay recently dubbed 'Wine of the Year' is about to land on Aussie shores - but only for a limited time. New Zealand 's Isabel Estate Wild Barrique Chardonnay 2022 has just come off the back of being named Wine of the Year at the London Wine Competition, and Champion Chardonnay at NZ's National Wine Awards. And on July 8, Aussies will be able to score a $45.99 bottle (or three) for themselves at Dan Murphy's. The Chardonnay is the latest blend flipping the style's 'granny' reputation on its head, with the wine crafted from some of the oldest vines on the Isabel Estate site. It undergoes 100 per cent wild fermentation to result in a wine of 'power and elegance' with notes of melon, citrus and vanilla and has a smoother, creamier base than many others on the market. 'We keep the fruit on lees for an extended period so the flavour continues to develop and also allow the fruit and oak notes to intertwine well. It is a true global style that resonates with sommeliers and lovers of high-quality Chardonnay,' Jeremy McKenzie, Chief Winemaker at Isabel Estate, told FEMAIL. Jeremy is delighted to see Chardonnay making waves again after a stint that saw other varieties take centre stage. 'It has always had a bit of a stereotype as a rich, oak-heavy white wine that you'd see your grandma drinking at family lunch. But more and more producers are working hard to shine the spotlight on Chardonnay as a vibrant, stonefruit-forward white wine with great acidity, minerality and balance,' he said. Jeremy McKenzie, Chief Winemaker at Isabel Estate (pictured), says producers are working hard to shine the spotlight on Chardonnay as a vibrant, stonefruit-forward white wine 'I think if we continue to share the story around these judicious restrained oak used Chardonnays we will see more interest in the varietal to a wider audience. 'I personally hope people keep an interest in chardonnay as it's a wonderful, versatile grape that's widely grown both here in Australia and New Zealand and more broadly, Burgundy.' Jeremy said their team is super passionate, taste widely and particularly love Chardonnay from Tasmania, the Yarra and Chablis. This, he says, lends to their distinctive style. In terms of cellaring and pairings, Jeremy said the wine is 'super cellarable', 'can be a highlight on a special occasion' and works brilliantly with seafood. 'The wine is super cuisine friendly - a favourite is Manuka Smoked Marlborough salmon,' he said. 'But it is also great with an octopus linguine.' The Wild Barrique has only just been launched with Australian distributors so the wine isn't on any restaurant lists Down Under yet... but that may not be for long. 'Keep an eye out,' Jeremy hints.
