Stargazer Single Vineyard Riesling 2023

Stargazer Single Vineyard Riesling 2023

$35.00

A feinherb style that is at once richer and more tense than the 2022. Stunning aromatics of green mango, kiwi, star jasmine, pink grapefruit, lime, white cherry and blackcurrant. Stunning breadth, absolutely palate coating, focused, intense and mineral. The fruit is perfectly ripe, yet tangy, mouthwatering and so pristine, you’ll have to have another sip. Greater complexity on the palate, as it fills out. Salty, silky, with yellow fruits and citrus, juicy and succulent. One of Australia’s best Reslings, and one of the few that can play on the field with top German Riesling. What a bargain. Waters Wine Co

 

This wine teeters on the brink between ‘dry’ and ‘off dry’ – simply put it’s just superbly balanced in terms of acid and fruit. All the grapes are sourced from a single vineyard in the Tea Tree subregion of Coal River, planted in 2004 at a vineyard density 5000 vines per hectare on predominantly dark clay on Jurassic dolerite.

 

Hand picked, destemmed and left on skins for 8 hours before being pressed off to tank for fermentation. A small parcel of Riesling is also fermented on skins then added to the overall blend later. Samantha stops the tank ferment when she feels the sugar to acid balance is right (approximately two months) and then leaves on lees for 2 months, stirring fortnightly. A Riesling with natural acid (2.99 PH) and with 8.6g grams residual it’s an absolute pleasure of a wine that showcases the potential of the Coal River for this variety. Producer’s notes

 

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SKU: SGA003-23 Categories: , ,

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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.

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