Stargazer Tupelo 2023

Stargazer pays tribute to Abel Tasman, who as an explorer and navigator, must have spent a fair amount of time gazing towards the heavens. Tasman, a Dutchman under the employ of the United East India Company was the first European to sight Tasmania and then the South Island of New Zealand. Located in the Tea Tree subregion at the northern end of the Coal River Valley, the original single hectare vineyard was planted in 2004. Pretty much half and half riesling and pinot noir, the property is also home to an olive grove.

Talented winemaker and wine judge Samantha Connew took over the property in 2016 and expanded the vineyard to include additional vines: more pinot noir, some chardonnay and more riesling along with smaller quantities of gamay, pinot blanc, pinot gris and gewurztraminer.

The name Tupelo was inspired by the Tupelo black gum, of which its honey is highly sought after for its unique characteristic of having the perfect balance of sugars that it doesn’t crystallise. Samantha’s passion for white blends and the drive to find the perfect balance of sugar, acid and texture with her wines makes the naming of this wine perfect. Plus it’s the name of a Van Morrison song ‘Tupelo Honey’ and the place where Elvis was born. Given the praise this wine has received in recent vintages I’d say it’s keeping up with its heady namesake.

This unusual blend mirrors the famous Alsatian 'Gentil' styles marrying the body of Pinot Gris, the exuberance of Pinot Blanc with the spicy aromatics of Gewürztraminer and the finesse of Riesling. Pale yellow in colour with green flecks, the nose is perfumed and lifted showing honeysuckle and jasmine notes with dried pear spiciness and a hint of honeyed beeswax. There is a glossy texture to the palate, with the richness framed by subtle phenolics providing both persistence and length. The fruit was all destemmed and left in contact with skins for about eight hours prior to gentle pressing, and then fermented by indigenous yeasts in old white oak puncheons. The Gewurztraminer component had two days on skins prior to pressing. Left on lees in oak for close to three and a half months with lees stirring periodically, bottled with 3.8 grams residual sugar.

Pale yellow in colour with green flecks, the nose is perfumed and lifted showing honeysuckle and jasmine notes with dried pear spiciness and a hint of honeyed beeswax. There is a glossy texture to the palate, with the richness framed by subtle phenolics providing both persistence and length.

The Finer Details
Style - White Wine
Varietal - Pinot Gris 41%, Pinot Blanc 28%, Riesling 26%, Gewurztraminer 5%
Country - Australia
Region - Coal River Valley, Tasmania
Vintage - 2023
Bottle Size - 750ml
ABV - 12.8%
Closure - Screw Cap