Stella Bella, Suckfizzle Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, 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 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 small batch was hand-picked, cooled overnight then whole bunch pressed to provide supple and fine phenolics. The free run juice was lightly settled then transferred to barrel for fermentation in a proportion of new French oak. Battonage was undertaken once per month to bring texture and some savoury elements, following 9 month maturation.

Tasting Note

Structured by the driving purity of Semillon’s citrus fruits then enriched with Sauvignon Blanc’s nectarine, gooseberry, passionfruit and sweet herbs. From fermentation and lengthy maturation in oak, the palate acquires an oak veneer, a mineral edge and lemon butter richness. In time, the tightly woven acidity will soften and the oak will meld with the ample ripe fruit to yield a fine, long living layered and meticulously structured wine.

Food Matching

Poached salmon, natural oysters, chevre, ceviche.

Awards

Halliday Wine Companion 95 Points
Such a good wine with its smoky charm, texture and savoury palate thanks to some parcels of fruit fermented in barrel with regular lees stirring. It’s a contained wine though, as nothing is overt or dominating, with great balance of fruit to acidity and phenolics. It’s delicious, complex and compelling. 95 Points, JH, 2025.