Nose
An expressive, complex nose with svelte aromatics – notes of orange blossom, peach,
camomile and biscuity roasted hazelnut, with subtle smokey, flinty aromas from the finest
quality French oak.
Palate
The palate is tight and focused – the result of another perfect vintage here in Margaret River.
A real citrus assortment of lemon and lime highlighted with a delicious grapefruit brûlée. The
textural finish has a lingering nuttiness and complexity from the battonage, enhancing the
signature length of flavour which shows great persistence.
Growing Conditions
Reasonable winter rains led into favourable spring conditions with an absence of the violent
wet weather that can reduce fruitfulness. Summer was, again, long and mild, with very few
heat spikes and little rain. The marri trees had fantastic blossom (the best since 1994), that
lingered on and reduced bird pressure facilitating even ripening. As such, all grapes could be
picked with no disease and at perfect ripeness. Harvest timing was slightly earlier than
normal and the whites wines have good depth of flavour and great finesse.
Winemaking
All the individual vineyards that contribute to the Stella Bella Chardonnay were vinified
separately. Most batches were hand‐picked at between 12.0 to 13.3° Be and cooled
overnight before whole bunch pressing to extract free run juice only. Fermentation occurred
in a combination of new and older Burgundian oak, with a maximum of 20% new oak in each
batch. Fermentation temperature was controlled between 25°C to 26°C and the lees were
stirred regularly from the end of fermentation and throughout the malo‐lactic fermentation.
After 12 months in barrel the wine was blended to tank and held for 6 months prior to fining,
filtration and bottling.
Appearance
Vivid pale straw.
Food Pairing
Salad of warm duck, orange, watercress and hazelnut.
