Stargazer Riesling 2026

Stargazer Riesling 2026

$40.00

“Very pale yellow in colour with green hints, the nose is floral and lifted, showing waxy white flowers;
gardenias and jasmine. In the background pink grapefruit and kaffir lime spiciness. The acid provides structure, drive and backbone to the palate, while the tangy exit is balanced with a judicious touch of residual sugar.” Samantha Connew – Owner + winemaker

 

This wine includes fruit from all three blocks of Riesling at Samantha’s own Palisander Vineyard in the Tea Tree subregion of Coal River Valley, twenty minutes north-east of Hobart. Planted in 2004, 2017 and 2021, the clones are GM239 and GM198, with the older vine material sourced from Moorilla. The remaining fruit is from a vineyard in the Richmond area of Coal River Valley, planted in 2017 to clone GM239. Both vineyards are primarily brown dermosol on Jurassic dolerite, cane pruned and trained to a vertical shoot positioned canopy, with green harvesting and shoot thinning in spring and summer where necessary.

Harvested at a sugar range between 11.8 and 12.2 Bé, all picks were destemmed and a portion (30%) left in contact with skins for about sixteen hours prior to gentle pressing. 100% wild fermented (by indigenous yeasts) in stainless steel over seven weeks, then left on lees prior to blending.

 

Shop Stargazer

 

In stock

Producer:
SKU: SGA003-26 Categories: , , ,

Additional information

Producer

Grape Variety

Region

Country

Vintage

Size

Producer Profile

Stargazer, in a very short space of time, has become one of the most exciting prospects in Tasmania.

Founder/owner/winemaker and grape grower, Samantha Connew, released her first Stargazer wines in 2012, after previously working with Wirra Wirra as chief winemaker. Initially her fruit was sourced from small parcels in the Coal River Valley and still is, but in 2016 Sam purchased an 11 hectare property, with 1 hectare of Riesling and Pinot Noir. She increased plantings to 3 hectares in 2017, more Pinot and Chardonnay. With a relentlessness born out of passion, true grit and early success, she has increased plantings in 2021, with additional Pinot Noir, Gamay, Pinot Blanc, Riesling, Pinot Gris and Gewurtztraminer. No doubt, there is more to come.

The vineyard is farmed sustainably. Every site, everywhere in the world is unique, but much of Tasmania is covered by brown dermosol soil over Jurassic dolerite. Free draining, but with excellent water holding capacity, fertility and high calcium content, it produces healthy crops of thick skinned grapes. Tannin management is the holy grail for Australian Pinot Noir, most being delightfully fruity, but without the requisite tannic power necessary for great Pinot. Tasmania, evidenced by producers such as Home Hill and Stargazer, are teasing not only longer, more refined tannins, but tannins of grip and presence that hold the palate and parade the fruit.

The whites all possess high levels of natural acids, tension, chisel, texture and flesh. There is a Pinot Meunier/Pinot Noir blend called Rada and a straight Pinot Noir. The Rada (when available) is juicy, bright, red fruited with pastry notes, delicate tannin and bracing acidity. The pinot noir, compact, spicy and wildly complex. Full bodied, structured and very powerful, it’s wide in the mouth and texturally silky, before the tannins fully assert themselves with an authoritative grip.

Stargazer’s range is unbeatable. The prices are a steal, truly fine wines of this quality are and should be more expensive. Sam Connew’s winemaking is an exercise in controlled virtuosity, bringing nuance and delicacy threaded with breadth, richness, structure and thrust.

Related products

Pin It on Pinterest