Stella Bella, Chardonnay, Margaret River, Australia, 2023

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 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 9 months before bottling.

Tasting Note

Brilliant pale lemon with green highlights. The bouquet has a panoply of scents of great intensity and complexity – there is an interplay of the aromatic notes of white flowers, anise and lemon curd with the deeper notes of spicy oak, some yoghurt‐ like nuances and a hint of struck match. The deft palate shows both restraint and power. Taut citrus, pear and briny/mineral elements build in the mouth and meld perfectly with the savoury, nutty, fine‐grained oak which nevertheless remains unobtrusive. The finish has a pleasant grapefruit‐like tang and the signature length of flavour which shows great persistence. A wine of elegance & finesse.

Food Matching

Roasted pork belly. Duck.

Awards

Halliday Wine Companion 95 Points
In a way, this is a bit of a sleeper. Slow to unfurl even if it immediately tastes delicious with its pink grapefruit, citrus rind and fresh ginger tang. Mouth-watering sulphides make an impression as the invigorating acidity surfaces, curling across the palate. Savoury, spicy, a little creamy yet flinty and fine, too. It’s tightly wound; let it breathe to reveal its detail or give it another year or so in the cellar. Either way, this is very good. 95 Points, JH, June 2025.