Stella Bella, Serie Luminosa Chardonnay, Margaret River, Australia, 2022

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

This is a single vineyard wine from the Luminosa Vineyard. Pruning with vertical shoot positioning with top and side trimming. The yield is around 4 tonnes /ha and all grapes are hand harvested. The warm weather in the southern vineyards provide perfect ripening conditions. Lower yields produce some exceptional flavours and intensely aromatic, punchy wines.

Winemaking

Luminosa is made in the vineyard. The endemic Gin Gin Chardonnay Clone was handpicked in two parcels during the cool of the morning at the perfect flavour ripeness. Whole bunch pressed to maintain fruit purity. Settled over night and transferred on lees to French oak barrels for natural fermentation. Battonage as required to ensure the perfect balance of flavour, complexity and texture. Bottled unfined and unfiltered.

Oak Ageing

Time: 10 months
Type: Fench
% wine oaked: 100
% new oak: 27

Tasting Note

Pale green/gold in colour. The wine’s fragrant aromas of stone fruits, cashew and white flowers show great intensity and harmony. The palate reflects this with layered flavours of juicy ripe nectarine, a touch of fig and nuances of honey, dairy, almonds and nougat. The texture is glossy with a wonderfully creamy mouth feel complemented by a really fine mineral acidity – the melding of nutty oak and fruit is faultless. A wine of elegance and finesse with dazzling breadth, depth and persistence of flavour.

Food Matching

Pork belly with crispy crackling.