Nose
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 whiff of struck match.
Palate
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.
Growing Conditions
The dry and warm conditions of spring provided perfect conditions for flowering and fruit set.
The dry spell that continued for the entire summer tempered vine growth and enhanced
ripening. A hot start to March allowed for full ripeness in whites. The cooling conditions of
early April slowed the red harvest marginally and significant rains following in mid‐April
brought vintage to a close. Another protracted vintage, yet the long dry ripening conditions
of summer set the stage early for the achievement of full ripeness in most vineyards.
Winemaking
All the individual vineyards that contribute to the Stella Bella Chardonnay are 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 occurs in
a combination of new and older Burgundian oak, with a maximum of 15% new oak in each
batch. Fermentation temperature is controlled between 25°C to 26°C and the lees are 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
Brilliant pale lemon with green highlights.
Food Pairing
Moules Marinières, Steamed Scallops & Tiger Prawns with Ginger &
Spring Onions, Morning Market Noodles.
