ISABEL ESTATE WILD BARRIQUE CHARDONNAY 2023

Double Gold Medal at the prestigious Global Fine Wine Challenge in Australia 2025

Judges' Comments
96/100 "Smoky charcuterie reduction overlying bacon bone and intense fruit flavour. Powerful, concentrated, with line and length to burn here. Superb wine."

95/100 "Subtle floral bouquet opens to reveal hints of freshly grated lemon, wet stone. Fresh, crisp and bright, excellent intensity of white peach, melon and lemon, building complexity to the finish. Beautifully balanced, offering refinement and subtle layered complexity to the close."

Gold Medal – Marlborough Wine Show 2024
Gold Medal – New Zealand International Wine Show 2025

Winery notes (2023 Vintage)
"Subtle citrus, white peach and nectarine emerge from a complex array of gun flint and mealy notes. The palate is seamless, showing poise and restraint amidst a tightly woven French oak backbone. This single vineyard wine sings of site and vine age and delivers a stylish Chardonnay of subtlety and elegance.

Predominantly fermented in 500L puncheons with 30% new french oak. The wine spent a year in barrel where it underwent malolactic fermentation and extended time on lees before being blended in tank and aged for a further 5 months prior to bottling."

Reviews for previous vintages below…

5 Stars & 95/100 Bob Campbell MW, The Real Review, January 2024 (2021 Vintage)
"Noticeable and fashionable level of reduction here with subtle spice and complex mineral notes on the nose. The mid-bodied palate has linearity, good density and power but is also very elegant and refined. Less overtly dense and more flowing than many wines in this style. Good concentration with lovely mid-weight flavours which build towards the back where oak firms up. Very modern style but unpretentious."