2015 Stefano Lubiana Grande Vintage Brut – Tasmania | 96 Points

96 POINTS WINE ADVOCATE! TEN YEARS ON LEES! AN EXTRAORDINARY TASMANIAN VINTAGE SPARKLING WINE – JUST $99!

96 Points – The Wine Advocate

2015 Stefano Lubiana Grande Vintage Brut – Derwent Valley, Tasmania

NEW RELEASE | RRP $99 PER BOTTLE

Now this is what we call seriously impressive sparkling wine!

Every so often, we discover a wine that makes us question how a producer can possibly deliver this level of quality for the money.

And the newly released 2015 Stefano Lubiana Grande Vintage Brut is exactly that sort of wine.

Just consider what you're getting.

100% ESTATE-GROWN TASMANIAN FRUIT.

50% CHARDONNAY AND 50% PINOT NOIR.

CERTIFIED BIODYNAMIC VINEYARDS.

TRADITIONAL BOTTLE FERMENTATION.

TEN EXTRAORDINARY YEARS ON LEES!

96 POINTS ROBERT PARKER'S WINE ADVOCATE!

AND JUST $99 A BOTTLE!

This is not ordinary Australian sparkling wine.

This is a magnificent, mature vintage Brut from one of Tasmania's most respected family-owned wine estates.

A sparkling wine that has spent a decade developing the extraordinary complexity, texture and richness that only time can deliver.

Think honeyed lemon.

Baked orange rind.

Toasted hazelnuts.

Brioche.

Almond pastry.

Subtle spice.

And a wonderfully creamy, persistent mousse.

Yet despite its maturity, the wine retains beautiful freshness, energy and precision.

TEN YEARS ON LEES. 96 POINTS. JUST $99.

That is an extraordinary combination.

Stefano Lubiana – Five Generations of Winemaking Excellence

There are few names in Tasmanian wine with the history and reputation of Stefano Lubiana.

Steve and Monique Lubiana established their estate in Tasmania's Derwent Valley in 1990.

Their ambition was to produce world-class Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and traditional-method sparkling wines.

Steve brought five generations of family winemaking heritage to the project, with family roots in Italy.

But it was Tasmania that offered the remarkable cool-climate conditions he wanted.

Long growing seasons.

Beautiful natural acidity.

Exceptional Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

And the potential to produce sparkling wines capable of developing extraordinary complexity with age.

The family established its vineyard at Granton, overlooking the Derwent River.

Over the following decades, Stefano Lubiana became one of Australia's most respected producers of premium cool-climate wines.

Today, the next generation is also involved in the family's winemaking story.

And the 2015 Grande Vintage represents everything that makes this estate so special.

Exceptional fruit.

Patient winemaking.

And an uncompromising commitment to quality.

Tasmania's Biodynamic Pioneer

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

The estate was among Tasmania's pioneers in adopting this approach and became certified biodynamic in 2013.

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

Healthy vines.

Living soils.

Careful management.

And a commitment to producing fruit with purity, concentration and genuine character.

For great sparkling wine, this is particularly important.

A wine destined to spend ten years ageing in bottle must begin with exceptional fruit.

There is simply nowhere to hide.

And the 2015 Grande Vintage demonstrates just how remarkable the results can be.

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

Tasmania has established itself as one of Australia's most exciting regions for traditional-method sparkling wine.

And the Derwent Valley is particularly important to that reputation.

The region's cool conditions and long ripening season allow Chardonnay and Pinot Noir to develop flavour while retaining the natural acidity essential for premium sparkling wine.

That acidity provides the foundation for extended ageing.

It gives the wine structure.

Freshness.

Precision.

And the ability to balance the richness that develops over many years on lees.

The Lubiana estate's vineyards feature distinctive soils, including gravelly loams over clay and red loams over gravel.

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

The result is sparkling wine with beautiful concentration, elegance and exceptional ageing potential.

50% Chardonnay and 50% Pinot Noir – A Magnificent Partnership

The 2015 Grande Vintage is an equal blend of the two great varieties of traditional sparkling wine.

50% CHARDONNAY.

50% PINOT NOIR.

Chardonnay contributes finesse, citrus intensity, structure and mineral precision.

Think lemon zest.

Green apple.

White flowers.

And beautifully refreshing acidity.

Pinot Noir brings richness, depth and texture.

Red apple.

Subtle berry fruit.

Stone fruit.

And savoury complexity.

Together, they create a sparkling wine with exceptional balance.

Chardonnay provides the line and energy.

Pinot Noir brings the generous, mouth-filling palate.

And after ten years on lees, the two varieties have developed into something truly extraordinary.

A beautifully mature sparkling wine with richness, precision and genuine sophistication.

TEN YEARS ON LEES – THIS IS EXTRAORDINARY!

Now here is the detail that really makes this wine special.

TEN YEARS ON LEES!

Not two years.

Not five years.

A FULL DECADE.

The 2015 Grande Vintage was produced using the traditional method, with its second fermentation taking place inside the bottle.

After fermentation, the wine remained in contact with its lees.

Over time, this prolonged ageing allows the wine to develop remarkable complexity.

Fresh citrus evolves into richer lemon-curd and preserved-fruit characters.

Delicate fruit aromas become more layered.

Toasted nuts.

Brioche.

Pastry.

Honey.

And savoury, umami-like complexity begin to emerge.

The bubbles become beautifully integrated.

The texture develops greater creaminess.

And the wine takes on the remarkable depth associated with mature traditional-method sparkling wine.

Ten years is an extraordinary commitment to ageing a wine before release.

And at just $99 a bottle, that patience represents remarkable value.

A Beautifully Restrained Dosage – Just 5 Grams per Litre

The 2015 Grande Vintage has a dosage of approximately 5 grams per litre.

That is a relatively restrained amount.

The intention is not to make the wine taste sweet.

Instead, the dosage helps balance the natural acidity and complements the complexity developed during ageing.

The result is beautifully harmonious.

Rich and generous through the middle of the palate.

But fresh, precise and wonderfully dry through the finish.

This is mature sparkling wine with impressive balance and elegance.

Honeyed Lemon, Toasted Nuts, Baked Orange and Extraordinary Complexity

The 2015 Grande Vintage is a magnificent example of mature Tasmanian sparkling wine.

In the glass, it displays an attractive golden-straw colour.

The bubbles are exceptionally fine.

And the mousse is beautifully creamy.

The aromas immediately reveal the wine's maturity.

Honeyed lemon.

Baked orange rind.

Toasted hazelnuts.

Almond pastry.

And beautifully developed brioche characters.

Then come the more savoury notes.

Delicate spice.

A little roasted nut.

And an intriguing umami complexity.

On the palate, the wine is wonderfully concentrated.

The Pinot Noir provides generosity and depth.

The Chardonnay brings beautiful freshness and precision.

And the extended lees ageing has created a luxurious, creamy texture.

Yet there is nothing heavy or tired about the wine.

The acidity remains beautifully vibrant.

The flavours are concentrated and persistent.

And the finish is long, savoury and wonderfully satisfying.

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

This is serious sparkling wine.

96 Points – Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

96 POINTS FOR A TEN-YEAR-AGED VINTAGE SPARKLING WINE COSTING JUST $99!

That is a seriously impressive result.

And exactly the kind of quality-to-price relationship we love finding at Liquid Vibe.

A Serious Alternative to Mature Vintage Champagne

If you enjoy great vintage Champagne, this is a wine you should absolutely explore.

Consider the credentials.

Estate-grown Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

Certified biodynamic vineyards.

Traditional bottle fermentation.

Ten years on lees.

Low dosage.

And an outstanding 96-point review.

These are the hallmarks of ambitious sparkling winemaking.

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

But the dedication to exceptional fruit and extended ageing is something they share.

The 2015 Grande Vintage offers a remarkable opportunity to experience the richness and complexity of a mature traditional-method sparkling wine without spending several hundred dollars.

And that makes it particularly exciting.

Outstanding with Food

The combination of maturity, texture and freshness makes the 2015 Grande Vintage a magnificent food wine.

Cantonese Roast Pork Belly

A sensational pairing. The richness of the pork is beautifully balanced by the wine's acidity, while its savoury complexity complements the roasted flavours.

Lobster with Butter

The creamy mousse, toasted brioche and citrus freshness work beautifully with rich lobster.

Pan-Seared Scallops

A magnificent match for scallops served with browned butter.

Roast Chicken

The wine's savoury complexity complements roast chicken with herbs and a rich roasting jus.

Mushroom Tartlets

The toasted, nutty characters work wonderfully with caramelised mushrooms and pastry.

Aged Comté

A beautiful pairing that brings out the wine's roasted-nut and savoury notes.

Truffle Risotto

The wine has enough texture and complexity to stand alongside the earthy richness of truffle.

And of course, this is a magnificent wine to enjoy on its own.

Serve it in a proper white-wine glass rather than a narrow flute.

Give it time to open.

This is a sparkling wine worth savouring slowly.

Ready to Drink – With More to Give

One of the greatest attractions of this release is that the winery has already done the hard work for you.

Ten years of ageing.

Ten years of patience.

And ten years of developing complexity.

The wine is beautifully mature and ready to enjoy now.

But the freshness, concentration and structure also suggest the potential for further development with careful cellaring.

For collectors of serious Australian sparkling wine, this is a fascinating bottle.

Open one now and put another away to see how it evolves.

Why We Love This Wine at Liquid Vibe

At Liquid Vibe, we're constantly searching for wines that offer extraordinary quality, genuine pedigree and outstanding value.

And the 2015 Stefano Lubiana Grande Vintage is exactly the sort of wine that gets us excited.

First, there is the producer.

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

Then there is the vineyard.

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

Then there are the grapes.

50% CHARDONNAY AND 50% PINOT NOIR.

Then there is the winemaking.

TRADITIONAL BOTTLE FERMENTATION.

Then comes the extraordinary ageing.

TEN YEARS ON LEES!

Then there is the critical recognition.

96 POINTS ROBERT PARKER'S WINE ADVOCATE!

And finally, there is the price.

JUST $99 A BOTTLE!

This is a wine with serious credentials.

Beautifully mature.

Wonderfully complex.

Rich and textural.

Yet still fresh, precise and full of energy.

96 POINTS. TEN YEARS ON LEES. BIODYNAMIC TASMANIAN FRUIT. A MAGNIFICENT NEW RELEASE FOR JUST $99.

2015 Stefano Lubiana Grande Vintage Brut – one of the most exciting mature Australian sparkling wines we've seen at this price and a magnificent addition to the Liquid Vibe range.

Wine Details

• Producer: Stefano Lubiana Wines

• Wine: Grande Vintage Brut

• Vintage: 2015

• Region: Derwent Valley, Tasmania

• Grape Varieties: 50% Chardonnay, 50% Pinot Noir

• Vineyard: Estate-grown, Granton

• Viticulture: Certified biodynamic estate

• Production: Traditional-method bottle fermentation

• Lees Ageing: Approximately 10 years

• Dosage: 5 g/L

• Style: Mature vintage Brut sparkling wine

• Aromas: Honeyed lemon, baked orange rind, toasted nuts, brioche and subtle spice

• Palate: Rich, creamy and savoury, with fine bubbles, refreshing acidity and exceptional length

• Alcohol: 12.5%

• Critic Score: 96 Points – Erin Larkin, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

• RRP: $99 per bottle

• Food Pairing: Roast pork belly, lobster, scallops, roast chicken, mushroom tartlets and aged Comté

• Serving Temperature: 9–11°C

• Drinking Style: Beautifully mature and ready to enjoy, with further cellaring potential