Stargazer Riesling Release

Stargazer & The 2020 Riesling- Courtney Tate (Wine Envy Buyer)

After winning a sweep of awards in Australia and abroad, Samantha Connew (after swearing she wouldn’t) started her own label in 2012. Stargazer may have started quietly but the secret is now out; the wines are sensational.

Thankfully Samantha realised studying Law in Christchurch (shoutout; she’s a kiwi) wasn’t her thing and instead allowed herself to be swept up by the wine world and changed to study viticulture instead. After a swathe of vintages spent around the world in Oregon, Sicily, Western Australia, Mclaren Vale, Hunter Valley and finally settling in Tasmania, she became the winemaker for Pooley. Always having her eye on Coal River Valley, Samantha purchased fruit and released the inaugural Stargazer vintage in 2012. Her own 11 hectare site was purchased  in 2015 and she has since added 4 more hectares of Riesling, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

It is hard to pin down any one variety that hallmarks Stargazer but the Riesling has caused some serious double takes and is definitely our current crush.

The Stargazer Single Vineyard Riesling 2019 spent about 8 hours on skins before heading to tank and 25% old barrel for fermentation. When sugar and acidity were in harmony, Samantha stopped fermentation ahead of 3 months on lees with regular stirring.

An explosive botanical perfume of lime blossom, gardenia and white nectarine. The moreish acidity soars through an off-dry, generous palate of lemon pith and grapefruit. Length for days and at a mere 12% abv we think this is would make an excellent lunch date.

This Riesling evokes a mood of sitting by a lavender bush, sun in your face and eating apple Starburst. Happy days.

Buy Stargazer here.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *