Isole e Olena Chardonnay IGT 2023
(Tuscany, Italy) - [F 95] [WA 94] [JS 94] [VM 92] [DM 92]

Notes from the Winemaker:
Isole e Olena produced their first Chardonnay in 1987 after grafting select French clones of Chardonnay onto varietals of white grapes already thriving at the estate. 2023 is the first vintage made by Emanuele Reolon.

An artisanal white, this wine stands out for its quality, longevity, and style; it can be considered the ideal Isole e Olena wine. Fermented in small barrels, of which 25-30% are new wood, the aging of this wine begins only after a long contact with the finest lees.

Tasting Notes:
Light greenish gold in color, the Chardonnay is aromatic on the nose, with spicy, buttery perfumes. On the palate it balances ripe fruit, fresh bread crust from the oven, with a hint of spice from the oak aging and a long, slightly citrus finish.

Ratings & Reviews

95 Points - Falstaff: 
"Light, bright golden yellow colour. Elegant bouquet of tropical fruit and honeydew melon, with herbal hints of Mediterranean scrub in the aftertaste. Velvety on the palate, with well-integrated wood and a savoury finish." (Oct 2025)

94 Points - Wine Advocate:
"This is a wine in evolution. For one, the wine's name has changed under new management with the removal of the words "Collezione Privata," which readers may remember. The Isole e Olena 2023 Chardonnay is softly textured and rich with cooked apricot, baked apple, breakfast pastry and light spice. It is fermented and aged in oak with fruit from a dedicated six-hectare plot with a mix of calcareous marl and galestro shale, soil types that lock in freshness and perfumes. This is always a standout Tuscan white wine thanks to its pure intensity and carefully measured mid-weight intensity. Production is 21,000 bottles." – Monica Larner (Oct 2025)

94 Points - James Suckling:
"A restrained and toasty chardonnay with aromas of white chocolate, butter, citrus and stone fruit. Full-bodied, it shows density and freshness with a slightly bitter finish, yet it’s balanced overall. Drink or hold." (May 2025)

92 Points - Vinous Media:
"The 2023 Chardonnay is laced with hints of apricot, dried flowers, mint, tangerine oil and almond. All of the malolactic fermentation was blocked because of the heat of the year, while time in oak was nine months rather than 12. Soft and understated, the 2023 is quite attractive. It will be interesting to see how it ages in bottle." – Antonio Galloni (Jul 2025)

92 Points - Decanter Magazine:
"This was a good vintage for Chardonnay here, as there were no bruising heat spikes, but low acidity persuaded the estate to block the malolactic fermentation. The nose shows discreet apricot aromas with an underlying touch of oak. The attack is lean and precise, with some nutty oak evident as the wine has only been in bottle for nine months. There's a fine balance, with sufficient acidity to give a long, crisp finish. The silky texture confers finesse on a wine that's elegant rather than explosive." – Stephen Brook (May 2025)