The Stargazer Chardonnay is a medium-bodied, energetic, and highly detailed cool-climate white wine from the Coal River Valley, Tasmania. Produced by renowned winemaker Samantha Connew from her prized Palisander Vineyard, this boutique release is highly celebrated for its exceptional natural acidity, striking mineral drive, and beautifully managed wild complexity.
- Aromas: Highly fragrant and punchy with ripe white nectarine, grapefruit pith, and lemon curd, layered with strong, savoury characters of struck-match flint and toasted nut.
- Palate: Intense, taut, and deeply textural, delivering driving stone fruit and citrus flavours over a mouth-watering line of coastal acidity and a distinct phenolic grip on the finish.
- Style: A world-class, sleek, and highly distinctive cool-climate Chardonnay that masterfully layers complex wild elements with tight fruit precision and a savory, briny edge.
- Winemaking: Hand-picked, whole-bunch pressed directly to French oak vessels, wild-fermented spontaneously, and left to rest on its fine lees with blocked malolactic fermentation to retain its laser-sharp focus.
- Cellaring: Though it showcases a thrilling fruit energy on release, its powerful natural acid structure and fine phenolics mean it will cellar and evolve beautifully for 5 to 10 years.
- Food Pairing: Phenomenal with salt and pepper squid, Kingfish ceviche with lime and ginger, Vietnamese chicken salad (Gỏi gà), or a classic Thai green fish curry.
This is a seriously smart, high-energy white that handles its wild elements beautifully. It perfectly treats you to that classic, luxurious mix of smoky matchstick flint and ripe stone fruits, but it stays remarkably focused, athletic, and light on its feet thanks to a super crisp wave of ocean-breeze acidity.
Stargazer Wines
"Stargazer is one of Tasmania's most compelling new wine voices, owned and run by Samantha Connew. The label pays tribute to Abel Tasman — the first European to sight Tasmania — whose navigation of uncharted southern waters inspired the name.
Samantha's winemaking journey began in Oregon, where she fell under the spell of Pinot Noir before finding her way to an island that produces some of the world's most elegant expressions of the variety. Working with Pinot Noir, Riesling and Chardonnay from Tasmania's pristine cool-climate fruit, her focus on purity and balance is already earning Stargazer widespread critical recognition.
