Stella Bella, Chardonnay, Margaret River, Australia, 2020

Producer Profile

This boutique winery in the heart of Margaret River creates idiosyncratic named ranges like Suckfizzle in a low interventionist and organic way keeping their approach as simple as possible to allow their cherished vineyards to show their quality.

It is not merely in the names where these wines are memorable, as 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 delectable.

Viticulture

The Stella Bella Chardonnay is an annual picking of Luminosa and Forest Grove vineyard sites located in the southern reaches of the Margaret River region in order to capture strong varietal character and maintain high natural acidity. Also from a selection of clones but predominantly Gin Gin.

Winemaking

Hand-picked and whole bunch pressed. The juice was cold settled for 24 hours, then wild fermented in a combination of new and old French oak barriques. Battonage was undertaken based on taste throughout maturation to deliver a precise aroma, line and length. The wine was matured for 10 months before bottling.

Oak Ageing

Time: 10 Months
Type: French
% wine oaked: 100
% new oak: 38

Tasting Note

Pale straw with green hues.Aromas of gunflint char is complimented by fresh fruit aromas of pink grapefruit, lemon rind and lime, with hints of yellow peach fuzz and almond meal. Generous flavours of peach, lemon, lime and grapefruit delivers precision and tension from the tip of your tongue to the back of your palate. The refreshing mineral acidity, created by the summer sea breezes blowing through our vineyards, captures an element of saltiness and a spring water liveliness, which leaves you wondering where the bottle went.

Food Matching

Roasted pork belly. Duck.