Stella Bella Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

Awards

• Consistency of Excellence – Royal Melbourne Wine Awards 2024

• Gold Medal – Royal Melbourne Wine Awards 2024

• Gold Medal – Perth Royal Wine Awards 2024

• Gold Medal – Wine Show of WA 2024

• Gold Medal – Halliday Chardonnay and Cabernet Challenge 2024

A seriously decorated cabernet with silverware from all the right shows.

Tasting Notes

Appearance
Vibrant, clear red with a youthful core and bright rim.

Aroma
Mulberry, plum skin, violets and blueberry leap from the glass. The fruit sits front and centre, with perfectly judged French oak adding a gentle savoury complexity and a touch of vanillin and spice in the background.

Palate
Medium bodied, vibrant and elegant. Bright cherry, cranberry and blueberry form the core of the palate, supported by mulberry and dark plum notes. Fine, gravelly tannins frame the fruit and provide structure, while delicate vanillin from the finest French oak adds subtle complexity.

Finish
Long, salivating and moreish, with red and blue fruits, gentle savoury oak and dusty cabernet tannins drawing you back for another glass.

Blend and Winemaking

• Blend: 90 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 10 percent Malbec

• Region: Southern Margaret River, WA

• Vineyards: A blend of fruit from five Stella Bella vineyards, each contributing its own character

• Oak: French oak, chosen to support rather than dominate the fruit

• Style: Medium bodied, perfumed and elegant with classic cabernet line and length

The inclusion of Malbec adds colour, mid palate juiciness and a little extra floral and berry lift to the cabernet core.

Serving and Cellaring

• Drink Window: Now to 20+ years

• Serving Temperature: 16 to 18 degrees

• Decanting:

  • Young: Give it 1 to 2 hours in a decanter to let the perfume and structure unfurl

  • Aged: Pour gently off any sediment and allow it to open gradually in the glass

This wine will gain complexity with time, developing notes of cedar, tobacco, dried flowers and savoury earth while retaining its fine tannin line.

Food Pairing Suggestions 🍽️

• Roast Margaret River Arkady lamb rack with seasonal vegetables

• Herb crusted beef fillet with roast mushrooms

• Slow cooked lamb shoulder with rosemary and garlic

• Mushroom and thyme risotto

• Aged hard cheeses such as cheddar or Comté

FAQ 🧐

Is this a big, heavy cabernet?
No, it sits firmly in the medium bodied, elegant camp. There is plenty of flavour and structure, but the emphasis is on perfume, freshness and balance.

Can I drink it now or should I wait?
You can absolutely enjoy it now, especially with a decant, but the fine tannin structure and balance mean it will comfortably age for two decades or more.

What does the Malbec add?
Malbec brings extra colour, a touch of plush mid palate fruit and a hint of floral lift that sits beautifully alongside the cabernet’s structure and cassis drive.