2017 Stefano Lubiana Blanc de Blancs – Tasmania | 95 Points

95 POINTS WINE ADVOCATE! EIGHT YEARS ON LEES! ONE OF TASMANIA'S MOST EXCITING NEW SPARKLING RELEASES – JUST $75!

95 Points – The Wine Advocate

2017 Stefano Lubiana Blanc de Blancs – Derwent Valley, Tasmania

NEW RELEASE – RRP $75 PER BOTTLE

Now this is an extraordinary sparkling wine for the money!

Every so often, we come across a wine that makes us wonder how the producer can possibly deliver this level of quality at the price.

And the newly released 2017 Stefano Lubiana Blanc de Blancs is exactly that sort of wine.

Just consider what you're getting.

100% ESTATE-GROWN CHARDONNAY.

CERTIFIED BIODYNAMIC VINEYARDS.

TRADITIONAL BOTTLE FERMENTATION.

EIGHT YEARS ON LEES.

MORE THAN 12 MONTHS UNDER CORK BEFORE RELEASE.

95 POINTS ROBERT PARKER'S WINE ADVOCATE.

AND JUST $75 A BOTTLE!

This is serious sparkling winemaking.

The kind of patient, meticulous approach associated with some of the finest vintage Champagnes.

And the result is absolutely compelling.

Think lemon curd, lemon custard, spiced ginger cake, toasted brioche, almond pastry and an extraordinary chalky mineral backbone.

Rich and beautifully developed, yet wonderfully fresh and precise.

This is a sparkling wine that has been nearly a decade in the making – and it's finally here!

Stefano Lubiana – One of Tasmania's Great Wine Estates

There are few names in Tasmanian wine with the pedigree of Stefano Lubiana.

Steve and Monique Lubiana established their estate in Tasmania's Derwent Valley in 1990, recognising the remarkable potential of the region for Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and traditional-method sparkling wine.

Steve brought generations of family winemaking experience to the project.

His family heritage traces back to Italy, where winemaking was part of everyday life long before the family established itself in Australia.

But it was Tasmania that offered the cool climate, long growing season and natural acidity he wanted for truly exceptional sparkling wine.

The estate was established at Granton, overlooking the Derwent River.

Over the following decades, Stefano Lubiana developed a reputation for producing some of Australia's most refined Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and sparkling wines.

Today, the estate remains family owned and continues to pursue a philosophy built around exceptional fruit, patient winemaking and a profound respect for the vineyard.

And the 2017 Blanc de Blancs is a magnificent expression of that philosophy.

Certified Biodynamic – Exceptional Fruit Starts in the Vineyard

One of the defining features of Stefano Lubiana is its commitment to biodynamic viticulture.

The estate was a pioneer of certified biodynamic grape growing in Tasmania.

Its philosophy places enormous importance on soil health, biodiversity and the natural balance of the vineyard.

Rather than relying on synthetic treatments, the emphasis is on nurturing a healthy vineyard ecosystem.

The objective is to grow fruit with purity, concentration and a genuine sense of place.

For this Blanc de Blancs, the Chardonnay comes from the estate's Derwent Valley vineyard.

And not just any Chardonnay.

The 2017 is a single-vineyard wine made from some of the oldest Chardonnay vines on the property.

This is important.

Mature vines can deliver beautifully balanced fruit with the concentration and structure required for long ageing.

And when a sparkling wine is destined to spend eight years on lees, exceptional fruit quality is absolutely essential.

Derwent Valley – Tasmania's Extraordinary Sparkling Wine Country

Tasmania has become one of Australia's most exciting regions for premium sparkling wine.

And the Derwent Valley is a particularly fascinating part of that story.

The estate's vineyards benefit from cool conditions and a long ripening season.

This allows Chardonnay to develop flavour while retaining the vibrant natural acidity essential for fine sparkling wine.

The vineyard also features two distinctive soil profiles.

Grey gravelly loams over clay.

And red loams over gravel.

These soils contribute to the structure and complexity of the estate's fruit.

In the 2017 Blanc de Blancs, that vineyard character emerges as a beautiful chalky, mineral backbone.

The result is a wine with richness and maturity, but also wonderful tension, freshness and precision.

100% Chardonnay – The Elegance of Blanc de Blancs

Blanc de Blancs translates from French as “white from whites.”

In this case, it means a sparkling wine made entirely from Chardonnay.

Chardonnay is responsible for some of the world's most celebrated sparkling wines.

At its best, it delivers a magnificent combination of freshness, elegance, structure and ageing potential.

In youth, great Blanc de Blancs can display citrus, green apple and delicate floral aromas.

But with extended bottle ageing, something remarkable happens.

The wine develops greater richness.

Additional texture.

Toasted brioche.

Pastry.

Roasted nuts.

And wonderfully complex savoury flavours.

The 2017 Stefano Lubiana has had eight years to develop precisely these characters.

And that makes it a particularly exciting wine.

EIGHT YEARS ON LEES – THIS IS SERIOUS SPARKLING WINEMAKING!

This is the detail that really caught our attention.

EIGHT YEARS ON LEES!

Not eight months.

Not two years.

EIGHT YEARS.

The 2017 Blanc de Blancs was made using the traditional method, with its second fermentation taking place inside the bottle.

The wine then remained in contact with the spent yeast cells, known as lees, for an extraordinary eight years.

During this period, the wine gradually developed additional richness, texture and complexity.

Lemon custard.

Toasted brioche.

Almond pastry.

Spiced ginger.

And a beautifully creamy mouthfeel.

Extended lees ageing also helps create the fine, elegant bubbles associated with premium traditional-method sparkling wine.

But the most impressive part is the balance.

Despite all that time in bottle, the wine retains wonderful freshness and energy.

Eight years of ageing, yet still beautifully vibrant.

That is the hallmark of exceptional fruit and meticulous winemaking.

Disgorged in September 2025 – Then Rested for Another Year

And the patience didn't end after eight years.

The wine was disgorged in September 2025.

Disgorgement removes the yeast sediment that has accumulated during bottle ageing.

Many sparkling wines are released relatively soon afterwards.

But Stefano Lubiana took a different approach.

The wine was allowed to rest for more than 12 months under cork before release.

This additional period helps the wine settle and integrate after disgorgement.

The result is a more harmonious and complete sparkling wine.

Think about that.

Fruit harvested in 2017.

Eight years on lees.

Disgorged in 2025.

Then held for another year before release.

This is a wine that has been almost a decade in the making.

And you're paying just $75 a bottle.

Small Oak Component, Full Malolactic Fermentation and Low Dosage

The 2017 Blanc de Blancs also benefits from thoughtful base-wine preparation.

A small portion of the base wine, approximately 10–20%, underwent fermentation and maturation in oak.

This contributes subtle complexity and texture without overwhelming the Chardonnay.

The wine also underwent full malolactic fermentation.

This helps create a more rounded, creamy palate while retaining the freshness provided by the cool Tasmanian vineyard.

After disgorgement, the wine received a modest dosage of approximately 5 grams per litre.

That is a relatively restrained amount.

The intention is not to make the wine taste sweet.

It's to balance its acidity and allow the fruit, maturity and mineral character to shine.

The result is rich and beautifully developed, yet wonderfully dry and precise.

Lemon Curd, Ginger Cake, Almond Pastry and Chalk

The aromas of this wine are absolutely fascinating.

First come the citrus characters.

Fresh lemon zest.

Lemon curd.

And rich lemon custard.

Then the complexity begins to unfold.

Spiced ginger cake.

Toasted brioche.

Fresh almond pastry.

And delicate hints of crème brûlée.

There is a subtle savoury edge.

A little brine.

And a wonderfully distinctive chalky mineral character.

On the palate, the wine is rich and beautifully textured.

Eight years on lees have contributed remarkable depth.

But the freshness remains extraordinary.

The bubbles are fine.

The acidity is beautifully integrated.

And the flavours build through the palate with impressive concentration.

The finish is long, mineral and wonderfully persistent.

Richness, freshness, complexity and precision – all in magnificent balance.

This is serious Blanc de Blancs.

95 Points – Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

95 POINTS FOR A SPARKLING WINE COSTING JUST $75!

That is an exceptional result.

And it reinforces just how impressive this new release really is.

A Serious Alternative to Vintage Champagne

If you enjoy great Blanc de Blancs Champagne, this is a wine you absolutely should explore.

Consider the similarities in winemaking philosophy.

100% Chardonnay.

Exceptional vineyard fruit.

Traditional bottle fermentation.

Extended ageing on lees.

Low dosage.

And a commitment to developing complexity through patience rather than manipulation.

Of course, Tasmania and Champagne have their own distinctive vineyard characters.

But the underlying principles of serious sparkling winemaking are remarkably similar.

And eight years on lees is the sort of commitment you would expect from a genuinely ambitious vintage sparkling wine.

At $75, this represents an exceptional opportunity to experience the complexity of a mature, traditional-method Blanc de Blancs.

Outstanding with Seafood and Fine Food

The 2017 Stefano Lubiana Blanc de Blancs is a magnificent food wine.

Its combination of richness, acidity and savoury complexity makes it particularly versatile.

Fresh Oysters

The mineral freshness and subtle saline characters complement the natural brininess of oysters.

Lobster with Butter

A beautiful combination of rich seafood, citrus freshness and creamy texture.

Pan-Seared Scallops

The wine's lemon-custard and brioche characters work wonderfully with sweet scallops and browned butter.

King Prawns

Excellent with grilled prawns, lemon and olive oil.

Roast Chicken

A magnificent match for roast chicken with herbs and a light butter sauce.

Mushroom Tart

The toasted and savoury characters complement mushrooms and pastry beautifully.

Comté Gougères

A wonderful pairing with warm cheese pastries.

Aged Comté

The nutty, savoury complexity of the cheese brings out the wine's almond and brioche characters.

For something particularly special, serve this with lobster, butter and a little fresh lemon.

An absolutely magnificent combination.

A Wine to Enjoy Now – Or Continue Cellaring

One of the most exciting things about this release is that the wine has already done so much of its ageing at the winery.

Eight years on lees.

More than a year resting after disgorgement.

And now beautifully ready to enjoy.

You don't need to wait another decade for the wine to become interesting.

It's already wonderfully complex.

But thanks to its structure, acidity and careful winemaking, it also has the potential to develop further with appropriate cellaring.

A magnificent wine to open now, and an equally interesting bottle to follow over the coming years.

Why We Love This Wine at Liquid Vibe

At Liquid Vibe, we are constantly searching for wines that deliver extraordinary quality for their price.

And the 2017 Stefano Lubiana Blanc de Blancs is exactly the sort of wine that gets us excited.

First, there is the producer.

STEFANO LUBIANA – ONE OF TASMANIA'S GREAT FAMILY WINE ESTATES.

Then there is the vineyard.

CERTIFIED BIODYNAMIC, ESTATE-GROWN CHARDONNAY FROM THE DERWENT VALLEY.

Then there is the grape.

100% CHARDONNAY – THE CLASSIC BLANC DE BLANCS VARIETY.

Then there is the winemaking.

TRADITIONAL BOTTLE FERMENTATION.

Then comes the extraordinary ageing.

EIGHT YEARS ON LEES!

And even more patience.

OVER 12 MONTHS UNDER CORK BEFORE RELEASE!

Then there is the recognition.

95 POINTS ROBERT PARKER'S WINE ADVOCATE!

And finally, there is the price.

JUST $75 A BOTTLE!

We think this represents outstanding value for a wine of such ambition, maturity and quality.

It's elegant.

It's complex.

It's beautifully fresh.

And it delivers the sort of drinking experience that makes great vintage sparkling wine so special.

95 POINTS. EIGHT YEARS ON LEES. 100% BIODYNAMIC TASMANIAN CHARDONNAY. NEARLY A DECADE IN THE MAKING. JUST $75.

2017 Stefano Lubiana Blanc de Blancs – a magnificent new release and one of the most exciting Australian sparkling wines we've seen at this price.

Wine Details

• Producer: Stefano Lubiana Wines

• Wine: Blanc de Blancs

• Vintage: 2017

• Region: Derwent Valley, Tasmania

• Grape Variety: 100% Chardonnay

• Vineyard: Estate-grown, single-vineyard Chardonnay

• Viticulture: Certified biodynamic and organic

• Soils: Grey gravelly loams over clay and red loams over gravel

• Production: Traditional bottle fermentation

• Base-Wine Oak: Approximately 10–20%

• Malolactic Fermentation: Full

• Lees Ageing: Eight years

• Disgorgement: September 2025

• Post-Disgorgement Ageing: More than 12 months under cork before release

• Dosage: Approximately 5 g/L

• Alcohol: 12.5%

• Aromas: Lemon curd, lemon custard, ginger spice, toasted brioche and almond pastry

• Palate: Rich, creamy, precise and mineral, with a fine bead and long finish

• Critic Score: 95 Points – Erin Larkin, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

• RRP: $75 per bottle

• Food Pairing: Oysters, lobster, scallops, roast chicken, mushroom tart and aged Comté

• Serving Temperature: 8–10°C

• Cellaring: Enjoy now or cellar for further development