Nose
An expressive, complex nose with svelte aromatics – notes of nectarine, peach fuzz, melon
and biscuity roasted hazelnut, with subtle smokey, aromas from the finest quality French oak.
Palate
The palate is pithy and focused – grapefruit and lime pith , focused with phenolic drive. Not
too heavy, not too light with a juicy lime acidity, you can feel the grain of the chardonnay
across your tongue. The textural finish has a lingering nuttiness and complexity from the
battonage, enhancing the signature length of flavour which shows great persistence.
Growing Conditions
The Margaret River Vintage 2015 will be remembered for its concentrated flavours in white
wines and delicate fruit forward red wines. With very low crop levels and a severe lack of
marri and karri blossom which resulted in ravenous marauding birds hungry to eat grapes. All
of our white grapes were harvested and safely in the winery by the 7th of March. Flavours
were bright and fresh with natural acidity high and in good balance. Once again the weather
gods were on our side for a classic Margaret River vintage.
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,
which was determined based on tasting. 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
Pappardelle con funghi di bosco (Pappardelle with forest mushrooms).
