A dessert wine, from botrytis-affected, late harvest Sauvignon Blanc grapes, grown in the Wairau Valley, Marlborough. Plenty of years of bottle age. Brilliant golden glow in the glass, with enticing aromas of grilled grapefruit, vanilla, greengage, jalapeno, passionfruit, almond, lemon honey and tar on the nose. Rounded, unctuous and complex, the sweetness is underlined by a gentle acidity that gives enough drive through the palate to keep things flowing. Tropical flavours sweep through the mid-palate – papaya, apricot, roast quince and pineapple. Nicely balanced – elegant and deep but with a tang and slight minerality that stops it from cloying. The finish is nutty, plush and super long. A magical addition to have alongside a cheeseboard. 93pts.
Isabel Estate Noble Sauvage 2008
