Stella Bella, Suckfizzle Cabernet Sauvignon, Margaret River, Australia, 2022

Producer Profile

This boutique winery in the heart of Margaret River creates idiosyncratically named ranges like Suckfizzle with a low-intervention, organic ethos approach that allows their cherished vineyards to show their quality.

It is not merely the names of these wines that are memorable: once you have tasted them, you will see why Luke Jolliffe, the winemaker, continues to receive recognition and awards from around the world for wines that have that wonderful Margaret River restraint and elegance, but are bound together with a fruit purity that makes them nothing short of delectable.

Viticulture

The most southern and unique vineyard in the Margaret River Region. Situated in Augusta, surrounded by the Southern and Indian Oceans and just a stone’s throw from the Blackwood River inlet. This extraordinary location is influenced by the prevailing Antarctic winds of the Southern Ocean and moderated by the warmth of the mighty Blackwood river. By day it is 4-5 degrees cooler than Margaret River and by night it is 2-3 degrees warmer. Thus, creating wines with distinct flavour, character and age-ability.

Winemaking

Each parcel is selectively handpicked based on flavour, tannin ripeness and soil type. Small parcels of hand picked fruit are destemmed and hand sorted and gently tipped without any maceration (or pumps), into the fermenter to ensure a plush palate is driven by Cabernet Sauvignon skin tannin. Two days cold soak followed by primary ferment and no post ferment maceration. Pressed to selected French oak barriques after primary ferment for MLF in barrel. Minimal racking and a hands off approach to let the wine mature in peace.

Tasting Note

The nose is strikingly perfumed with ripe mulberries, blackberries and redcurrants lifted by a hint of both star anise and sage. The background expression of mocha and vanillin from selected Tronçais French Oak barrels integrates well with the opulent fruit flavours. Medium to full bodied in the mouth, with significant density of flavour. The tannins are fine, providing a silky, linear transition from the front to the back of the palate. The sweetness of fruit and the suppleness of the tannins are integrated with the blackcurrant, mulberry and redcurrant fruit flavours. Finely balanced, complete and with great charm; the wine’s retro-nasal persistence and length of flavour are stupendous.

Food Matching

Margaret River Wagyu or Grass fed steak fillet cooled to perfection with roasted root vegetables.

Awards

Halliday Wine Companion 95 Points
What a colour – dark purple dazzled by garnet; I spent a long time staring at the wine in the glass. On with it. It’s also incredibly dense, awash with sweet mulberries, cassis and currants, laden with spices yet really savoury characters of nori, black olives and Dutch licorice, plus no shortage of cedary oak. Full-bodied, voluptuous, even, with smooth, supple tannins and lots of them. This is no wallflower and leaves a lasting impression. 95 Points, JH, 2025.