Description
Stargazer is a boutique, premium producer of some of the most exciting wines coming from Tasmania, predominantly from the Coal River Valley in the southern part of the Island where the range focuses on Riesling, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
Winemaker Samantha Connew’s first vintage under Stargazer was in 2012 and after a long search her dream became a reality in 2016 when she purchased an 11 hectare site in the Coal River Valley, of which 1 hectare was planted with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Since then she has planted 2 more hectares compromising of Riesling, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir with another 2 planned for planting in 2021.
2023 is the third vintage that Stargazer have used both fruit from their own Palisander vineyard in Coal River Valley and sourced from a grower in the Upper Derwent Valley. The Stargazer plot was planted in 2017, south facing and is primarily brown dermosol on Jurassic dolerite. The Derwent Valley vineyard owned by Bernand Brain was planted in 1999 and there are soils white silica sand over sandstone and clay. The site is north-east facing. Hand picked, whole bunch pressed directly to oak and concrete egg for fermentation. The oak portion represents 80%. Wild ferment in 500L French oak (Mercurey), 20% new. Full malolactic. No lees stirring, left in barrel for 8 months, the blended in tank for 3 months before bottling.
About this wine from the winemaker, Samantha Connew: “Pale straw in colour with plenty of stone fruit notes on the nose: apple skin and ruby red grapefruit intermingled with some struck match/gunflint complexity. The oak characters are subtle and supportive. The palate is complex and round with some nervy mouth-watering acidity. The almost quinine-like structure is balanced out by a juicy finish.”
96 points, Dave Brookes for Halliday Wine Companion “A finely detailed chardonnay produced with grapes from the Palisander vineyard in the Coal River Valley and a site high up in the Derwent Valley at Ouse. Beautiful stone and citrus fruit tones mesh with a pitch-perfect level of struck match complexity along with hints of apple sorbet, soft spice, crushed riverstone, wildflowers and ozone. Tautly framed but expressive and long of flavour with soft, hazelnutty oak tones and briny drive that is nicely in line with the other characters. Such delicious, pristine drinking; winemaker Sam Connew is on a roll here.
RRP $85 Our Special Price $71.99 – Very limited!
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