2018 Collezione Privata Chardonnay, Isole e Olena, Toscana, Tuscany, Italy
Critics reviews
The 2018 Chardonnay is so gorgeous. Lemon confit, white flowers, tangerine and apricot all grace this soft, beautifully polished Chardonnay from Isole e Olena. The 2018 is perfumed, gracious and incredibly expressive. It is also without question the finest Chardonnay made in Tuscany.
Drink 2021 - 2026
Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com (August 2020)
A very pretty chardonnay with lemon, cooked apple and light vanilla character. Some meringue, too. It’s full-bodied with a creamy texture and a flavorful finish.
Drink now
James Suckling, jamessuckling.com (August 2020)
About this WINE
Isole e Olena
The Isole et Olena Estate, run by Paolo de Marchi for 45 years, is a Tuscan property that has seen a dramatic rise in quality over the last few decades. Paolo's family, originally from Piedmont, purchased the estate in the 1960s. His attention to detail in both the vineyard and the winery was the driving force that turned quality around. The estate was purchased by the EPI group recently, who have expertise in Tuscany, also owning the famed Montalcino estate Biondi-Santi.
The wines have Cepparello at their head, a barrique-aged Sangiovese classified as an IGT - because at the time of its creation in the 1980s a wine comprising 100% Sangiovese could not legally be labelled as Chianti. There is a Chianti Classico and a Vin Santo, as well as some excellent wines from the Collezione de Marchi label, including a Syrah called Eremo, a Cabernet Sauvignon and a Chardonnay.
Chardonnay
Chardonnay is the "Big Daddy" of white wine grapes and one of the most widely planted in the world. It is suited to a wide variety of soils, though it excels in soils with a high limestone content as found in Champagne, Chablis, and the Côte D`Or.
Burgundy is Chardonnay's spiritual home and the best White Burgundies are dry, rich, honeyed wines with marvellous poise, elegance and balance. They are unquestionably the finest dry white wines in the world. Chardonnay plays a crucial role in the Champagne blend, providing structure and finesse, and is the sole grape in Blanc de Blancs.
It is quantitatively important in California and Australia, is widely planted in Chile and South Africa, and is the second most widely planted grape in New Zealand. In warm climates Chardonnay has a tendency to develop very high sugar levels during the final stages of ripening and this can occur at the expense of acidity. Late picking is a common problem and can result in blowsy and flabby wines that lack structure and definition.
Recently in the New World, we have seen a move towards more elegant, better- balanced and less oak-driven Chardonnays, and this is to be welcomed.
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Description
The 2018 Chardonnay is so gorgeous. Lemon confit, white flowers, tangerine and apricot all grace this soft, beautifully polished Chardonnay from Isole e Olena. The 2018 is perfumed, gracious and incredibly expressive. It is also without question the finest Chardonnay made in Tuscany.
Drink 2021 - 2026
Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com (August 2020)
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