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.
This wine teeters on the brink between ‘dry’ and ‘off dry’, but simply put it’s just superbly balanced in terms of acid and fruit/RS. The grapes are sourced from a two vineyards in the Tea Tree sub region of Coal River, planted in 2004, 2017 and 2021 respectively. Soil type as described by Samantha is predominantly dark clay on Jurassic dolerite.
Hand picked in two picks one week apart, destemmed and left on skins for 8 hours before being pressed off to tank for fermentation. 100% wild ferment. Samantha stops the tank ferment when she feels the sugar to acid balance is right (approx 11 weeks) and then leaves on lees for one further month, stirring fortnightly. A Riesling with natural acid (2.97 PH) and with 8.4g grams residual it’s an absolute pleasure of a wine that showcases the potential of the Coal River for this variety and how the texture is so very different when you don’t need to acidify this variety.
About this wine from the winemaker, Samantha Connew “Pale yellow with green hints in the glass, the nose shows plenty of spice – freshly grated nutmeg and cardamom pods – along with the trademark Tea Tree apple skin character, and a honeysuckle floral note. On the palate there is plenty of wild fennel crunch combined with a and delicate chamomile laciness. The acid on the palate is salivating and zesty with a positive phenolic edge working seamlessly with the residual sugar to provide shape and balance.”
93 points, Dave Brookes, Halliday Wine Companion “A fragrant and wonderfully perfumed Coal River Valley riesling that shows characters of green apple, grapefruit, yuzu, lime, apple blossom, mineral salts, clover and crushed stone. There are little crushed mountain herb notes that join in on the palate, with a fine, lacy mineral driveline and a swell of green apple, citrus and stone on the back end.”
RRP $45 Our Special Price $36.99 when you buy 6 bottles or more of this wine
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