2010 Stella Bella SKUTTLEBUTT Sauvignon Blanc Semillon

Having recently received a care package of a few premium Margaret River wines and loving them I decided to visit the region on the weekend just gone to check out their Vintage Festival. There were a great list of exhibitors there and I tasted as I expected a bundle of fantastic wines. Whilst I was in the region I decided to get around and see the sights both before and after the festival day on the Saturday so expect quite a few Margaret River wines to feature shortly as I shipped home 12 cases from various cellar doors. I have to say freight can be expensive from the region back to sunny Melbourne but some of the wines will be available from larger liquor outlets so I'll do some research as to where they are available over here.

I found Stella Bella at the festival and then dropped by the cellar door on Sunday as I do like Stella Bella's wines and range. This one stood out so here is my little run down on white for something different. A gorgeous light straw green the clarity in this wine makes you see the marks you have left on the other side of the glass where you haven't polished it properly. The fresh citrus and light passionfruit aromas jump out of the glass at you inviting you in. Zesty and fresh on the palate this is well balanced with citrus and stonefruit dancing across your tongue. Good fruit weight brought by the Semillon most likely the wine is medium in length with a very clean but crisp finish, this is a fantastic wine as a refreshment on a hot summers day. The final blend let slip by James Halliday to be 50% Sav Blanc, 43% Semillon and 7% Chardonnay.

Basically put this is light, crisp and yummy! Quite acidic and not as tropical fruity as a Marlborough Sav Blanc but probably easier drinking and much better with food. If Sav Blanc is your thing then definitely give this a crack for something different.

James Halliday and the Margaret River wine show judges have given this a good wrap with a 94 and a gold medal respectively. My personal opinion here is not much short of a 9 out of 10 and that is considering I don't normally drink blends like this.

Value for money? At $18 absolutely, I think anything shy of $20 that is good honest drinking is fantastic value for money. Dan Murphys has the previous vintage at $17.09 in any mixed 6 pack so any price under $20 you are getting a great deal. In fact www.thevinepress.com.au has this little beauty at $14.99 if you are looking for a bargain.

As previously stated expect a bunch of Margaret River wine to appear up here in the coming months as I've shipped a ridiculous amount home, received a care package from a regular reader and also scribbled a million notes on my little travels over the weekend just gone. I'll try to mix it up with other things from my cellar and other purchases but most definitely Margaret River wine just cemented itself on my Radar as a great choice when at a bottle shop or restaurant. Good luck and happy drinking.