The Isabel Chardonnay Marlborough 2016 won the Champion Wine trophy, as well as the trophy for best chardonnay at the wine awards in Hawke's Bay last night.
Judges said the Isabel Chardonnay Marlborough 2016 could stand 'toe-to-toe' with the best in the world (file photo). Photo: 123rf
Seventeen trophies were announced for the winners among the 1300 wines entered.
The chief judge, Warren Gibson, said the overall winner could stand toe-to-toe with the best in the world.
"From a taste and style point of view it's a delicious wine - right from the first time you smell it, it's very inviting, complex, rich, it has all those complexities that you see in the greatest examples. It's a wine that would sit with some of the great wines of the world."
The chief winemaker at Isabel Estate, Jeremy McKenzie, said good wines took time and love to cultivate.
"Respect the soil where the grapes grow, and allow the unique characters of each vineyard and variety to be expressed in the final wine."
The second highest award went to the Dashwood Pinot Noir Marlborough 2016.