Stefano Lubiana Brut Reserve NV – Tasmania | 93 Points Wine Front

93 POINTS THE WINE FRONT! ONE OF TASMANIA'S GREAT SPARKLING WINES – AND JUST $54 A BOTTLE!

93 Points – The Wine Front

Stefano Lubiana Brut Réserve NV – Derwent Valley, Tasmania

RRP $54 per bottle

Now this is what we call seriously impressive Australian sparkling wine!

If you're looking for sparkling wine that delivers genuine Champagne-style complexity, beautiful freshness and extraordinary drinking pleasure without paying Champagne prices, this is a wine you absolutely need to know about.

The Stefano Lubiana Brut Réserve comes from one of Tasmania's most respected family wineries.

A fifth-generation winemaker.

Some of Australia's most exciting cool-climate vineyards.

Certified biodynamic viticulture.

Traditional bottle fermentation.

And two years ageing on lees.

This is serious sparkling winemaking.

Think fresh green apple.

Crisp red apple.

Lemon zest.

White peach.

Toasted almonds.

Freshly baked brioche.

And a beautifully fine, creamy mousse.

All wrapped together with the precision, elegance and refreshing acidity that make Tasmanian sparkling wines so exciting.

93 POINTS THE WINE FRONT!

JUST $54 A BOTTLE!

This is exactly the sort of sparkling wine we love recommending at Liquid Vibe.

Stefano Lubiana – Five Generations of Winemaking Excellence

The Lubiana family has one of the most fascinating stories in Australian wine.

Stefano Lubiana is a fifth-generation winemaker whose family winemaking heritage stretches back to Europe.

After growing up surrounded by vineyards and winemaking in mainland Australia, Steve recognised the extraordinary potential of Tasmania.

He was particularly interested in the island's ability to produce world-class Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and sparkling wines.

In the early 1990s, he and his wife Monique established their vineyard at Granton, overlooking the Derwent River north of Hobart.

Their ambition was to create wines that could compete with the finest cool-climate examples anywhere in Australia.

And over the following decades, that vision became a reality.

Today, Stefano Lubiana is one of Tasmania's most highly regarded producers.

The winery is particularly celebrated for its Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and exceptional traditional-method sparkling wines.

But what makes the estate even more remarkable is its commitment to biodynamic farming.

Tasmania's Biodynamic Pioneer

Stefano Lubiana was among the earliest producers in Tasmania to embrace biodynamic viticulture.

The estate began its biodynamic journey in 2008 and achieved certification in 2013.

The philosophy is based on treating the vineyard as a living ecosystem.

Healthy soils.

Natural biodiversity.

Careful vineyard management.

And an emphasis on allowing the vines to develop balance without relying on synthetic agricultural inputs.

The objective is not simply environmental sustainability.

It's also about producing better wine.

Wines with purity.

Energy.

Texture.

And a genuine expression of their vineyard origins.

That commitment is evident throughout the Stefano Lubiana range, including this magnificent Brut Réserve.

The Derwent Valley – One of Australia's Great Sparkling Wine Regions

Tasmania has become one of the world's most exciting regions for premium cool-climate sparkling wine.

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

Situated north of Hobart, the valley benefits from a cool maritime climate and a long growing season.

These conditions allow Chardonnay and Pinot Noir to ripen slowly while retaining beautiful natural acidity.

That acidity is absolutely essential for great sparkling wine.

It provides freshness.

Precision.

Structure.

And the ability to balance the richness developed through bottle fermentation and extended lees ageing.

The Lubiana vineyards overlook the Derwent River, with soils that include gravelly loams over clay and red loams over gravel.

These different soil profiles contribute to the complexity of the fruit.

And when you combine exceptional cool-climate vineyards with meticulous winemaking, the results can be extraordinary.

Chardonnay and Pinot Noir – The Classic Sparkling Wine Partnership

The Stefano Lubiana Brut Réserve is produced from the two great grapes of traditional sparkling wine.

Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

Chardonnay contributes freshness, citrus intensity, finesse and structure.

Think lemon.

Green apple.

White flowers.

And beautiful mineral precision.

Pinot Noir brings additional depth and texture.

Red apple.

Subtle berry fruit.

Stone fruit.

And a lovely savoury dimension.

Together, these two varieties create the balance that makes great sparkling wine so compelling.

The exact proportions vary between releases, allowing the winery to maintain its distinctive house style.

Elegant, refreshing, complex and beautifully balanced.

A Multi-Vintage Blend with Aged Reserve Wines

One of the secrets behind the quality of the Brut Réserve is the use of reserve wines.

Rather than relying exclusively on fruit from a single harvest, Stefano Lubiana incorporates carefully selected wines from previous vintages.

This is the same fundamental principle used by many of Champagne's greatest houses.

Reserve wines provide consistency.

But more importantly, they can contribute additional complexity.

Texture.

Maturity.

And subtle savoury characters.

For Stefano Lubiana, these reserve wines are an essential part of the Brut Réserve's personality.

They help create a sparkling wine that is both vibrant and sophisticated.

Fresh enough to be wonderfully refreshing, but complex enough to reward serious attention.

Traditional Bottle Fermentation – Two Years on Lees

This is where the Stefano Lubiana Brut Réserve really separates itself from many everyday sparkling wines.

It is made using the traditional method.

The second fermentation takes place inside the bottle.

This is the same fundamental technique used to produce Champagne.

During this process, the wine develops its bubbles naturally.

But the real magic comes from what happens next.

The Brut Réserve spends approximately two years ageing on its lees.

Lees are the spent yeast cells remaining after fermentation.

As the wine rests in contact with them, it gradually develops additional complexity.

Brioche.

Toasted bread.

Hazelnuts.

Pastry.

And a beautiful creamy texture.

This process also helps create the fine, persistent bubbles associated with premium sparkling wine.

Two years on lees is a serious commitment for a sparkling wine at this price.

And it makes a tremendous difference to the finished wine.

Green Apple, Lemon, Toasted Almond and Beautiful Brioche

The Stefano Lubiana Brut Réserve is a wonderfully sophisticated sparkling wine.

The aromas open with fresh orchard fruit.

Crisp green apple.

Red apple skin.

Ripe pear.

And a little white peach.

Then come the citrus notes.

Lemon zest.

Mandarin.

And a beautiful grapefruit freshness.

But what makes this wine particularly exciting is the complexity beneath the fruit.

Freshly baked brioche.

Toasted almonds.

Hazelnuts.

Delicate pastry.

And a lovely savoury character.

On the palate, the wine is beautifully refined.

The bubbles are fine and creamy.

The fruit is pure and expressive.

And the acidity provides wonderful tension and energy.

There is genuine richness through the middle of the palate.

But the finish remains beautifully dry, fresh and persistent.

A subtle saline quality adds another dimension.

This is sparkling wine with finesse, texture, complexity and genuine personality.

93 Points – The Wine Front

93 POINTS THE WINE FRONT FOR JUST $54!

A Serious Alternative to Champagne

There is a reason Tasmania has developed such an outstanding reputation for sparkling wine.

The climate.

The grapes.

The acidity.

And the commitment of producers such as Stefano Lubiana to traditional-method winemaking.

All the essential ingredients are there.

And the Brut Réserve demonstrates just how compelling the results can be.

You have Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

You have reserve wines from previous vintages.

You have traditional bottle fermentation.

And you have two years of lees ageing.

These are the building blocks of serious sparkling wine.

Of course, Tasmania is not Champagne.

The regions have their own distinctive personalities.

But for anyone who appreciates the finesse, complexity and freshness of traditional-method sparkling wine, the Brut Réserve is a magnificent bottle to explore.

And at $54, it delivers an enormous amount of quality for the money.

A Magnificent Food Wine

One of the greatest pleasures of traditional-method sparkling wine is its versatility with food.

The combination of acidity, bubbles and savoury complexity makes Stefano Lubiana Brut Réserve particularly impressive at the table.

Fresh Oysters

The bright citrus and saline freshness work beautifully with freshly shucked oysters.

Pan-Seared Scallops

The wine's creamy texture and subtle brioche characters complement the sweetness of scallops.

King Prawns

A terrific match for fresh prawns with lemon and aioli.

Lobster

The combination of fine bubbles, acidity and savoury complexity is magnificent with lobster.

Smoked Salmon

The wine's freshness balances the richness and smoky character of the fish.

Roast Chicken

Particularly good with roast chicken, herbs and a light butter sauce.

Mushroom Tart

The savoury, nutty characters in the wine work beautifully with mushrooms and pastry.

Aged Comté

A magnificent pairing that brings out the wine's toasted almond and brioche complexity.

And of course, this is an outstanding aperitif.

Serve it beautifully chilled and allow the wine to open in the glass.

Why We Love This Wine at Liquid Vibe

At Liquid Vibe, we're always searching for wines that offer exceptional quality, genuine individuality and outstanding value.

And the Stefano Lubiana Brut Réserve delivers on every level.

First, there is the producer.

STEFANO LUBIANA – ONE OF TASMANIA'S MOST RESPECTED WINEMAKERS.

Then there is the heritage.

FIVE GENERATIONS OF FAMILY WINEMAKING.

Then there is the vineyard.

CERTIFIED BIODYNAMIC VITICULTURE IN TASMANIA'S DERWENT VALLEY.

Then there are the grapes.

CHARDONNAY AND PINOT NOIR – THE CLASSIC SPARKLING WINE COMBINATION.

Then there is the winemaking.

TRADITIONAL BOTTLE FERMENTATION AND TWO YEARS ON LEES.

Then there is the flavour.

CRISP APPLE, CITRUS, TOASTED ALMONDS, BRIOCHE AND A BEAUTIFULLY CREAMY MOUSSE.

Then there is the recognition.

93 POINTS THE WINE FRONT!

And finally, there is the price.

JUST $54 PER BOTTLE!

This is a sparkling wine that delivers genuine quality.

It's beautifully made.

It's sophisticated.

It's refreshing.

And it offers remarkable value for a traditional-method sparkling wine of this calibre.

93 POINTS THE WINE FRONT. BIODYNAMIC TASMANIAN VINEYARDS. TWO YEARS ON LEES. SERIOUS CHAMPAGNE-STYLE COMPLEXITY. JUST $54.

Stefano Lubiana Brut Réserve NV – one of Tasmania's great sparkling wine bargains and a wine we're delighted to recommend at Liquid Vibe.

Wine Details

• Producer: Stefano Lubiana Wines

• Wine: Brut Réserve

• Vintage: Non-Vintage

• Region: Derwent Valley, Tasmania, Australia

• Winemaker: Stefano Lubiana

• Grape Varieties: Chardonnay and Pinot Noir

• Viticulture: Certified biodynamic estate

• Style: Traditional-method Brut sparkling wine

• Blend: Multi-vintage, incorporating aged reserve wines

• Secondary Fermentation: In bottle

• Lees Ageing: Approximately two years

• Soils: Gravelly loams over clay and red loams over gravel

• Aromas: Green apple, red apple, pear, citrus, toasted almonds and brioche

• Palate: Fine creamy mousse, fresh acidity, orchard fruit, pastry and savoury complexity

• Critic Score: 93 Points – Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front

• RRP: $54 per bottle

• Food Pairing: Oysters, scallops, prawns, lobster, smoked salmon, roast chicken and aged cheese

• Serving Temperature: 7–9°C

• Cellaring: The winery suggests potential for eight years or more, depending on release and storage