Tasting Notes for Stefano Lubiana Estate Chardonnay 2023 from the Winery

The most layered and complex of the three Chardonnays from Stefano Lubiana, the ‘Estate’ is a classic example of a robust but beautifully balanced cool climate wine. This wine has all the elements of a great Chardonnay present – fruit, oak, acid, creamy texture and complexity, but no element overpowers the other. A wonderful wine to enjoy now, or watch it grow and develop over the years.

The aspect and geography of the Estate Chardonnay blocks vary in range from 25 – 30 metres and 60 – 80 metres in elevation. The vines vary in age between 15 and 30 years old. The soil types of our Estate ranges from grey silty gravel over porous gravelly clay to gravelly and patches of chalky limestone. Low yields of less than 5 tonnes per hectare.

Hand picked grapes are processed immediately. All fruit is pressed first then barrelled by gravity to the underground cellar. The juice, on full solids, fills an assortment of 225L French oak barriques with a balanced level of new oak (20%). The juice’s indigenous yeast now takes the stage and erupts into spontaneous fermentation, bubbling away in our naturally cool and calm underground cellar. Once the wine is dry secondary fermentation begins with inoculation. Barrels are topped regularly and battonaged (stirring of barrel lees) infrequently. The wine matures in these conditions until it is transferred to tank a month prior to bottling.

Variety: 100% Chardonnay

Vineyard blocks: 100% Derwent Valley estate grown, single vineyard

Geology: Mix of two terriors grey gravelly loam over clay and red loam over gravel

Vineyard management: 100% Certified Biodynamic

Production: 250 doz

Cellaring: 6+ years

James Halliday: 

Stefano Lubiana 

Tasmania’s first and only certified biodynamic vineyard has been cultivating vines using biodynamic methods since 2010. This means that their wines are free of all synthetic treatments, additives and pesticides. Instead they travel the alternative path, stepping back in time and using cosmic rhythms to ensure soil regenereation as well as effective vine care through all phases of the year’s seasonal cycles.

Their much sought-after wines are the result of a passionate unrelenting quest for perfection. This passion, along with free thinking and attention to detail allows them to create wines which reflect this vision. Their focus on traditional and environmentally sensitive principals has only strengthened their desire to create wines that have a unique and distinctive character, with free-flowing elegance and quality.

(SKU: SL_ECh_CV)