2026 Stargazer Riesling

A benchmark expression of Tasmanian Riesling from Sam Connew's Coal River Valley estate, precise, generous and built to age.

Price:
Sale price$39.00
Stock:
In stock, ready to ship
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Description

Sam Connew has built one of the most distinctive Riesling programs in Australia at her Coal River Valley estate, and the Tea Tree vineyard is at the heart of it. Planted across multiple blocks from 2004 onwards, the site consistently delivers that particular Tasmanian combination of racy acidity, aromatic precision and genuine depth.

The style sits on the edge between dry and off-dry, with just enough residual sugar to balance the naturally high acidity rather than sweeten it. Skin contact, wild ferments and a little lees stirring add texture and shape.

Classic Tea Tree characters: crisp apple skin, citrus and spice (nutmeg, cardamom), with honeysuckle and chamomile florals, a fennel edge and a saline line running through the finish.

Approachable now, and with the natural acidity to develop comfortably in bottle for several years.

This wine teeters on the brink between ‘dry’ and ‘off dry’, but simply put it’s just superbly balanced in terms of acid and fruit/RS. The grapes are sourced from all 3 blocks of Samantha’s own vineyards in the Tea Tree sub region of Coal River, planted in 2004, 2017 and 2021 respectively and from another grower in Campania sub region, planted in 2001, Soil type as described by Samantha is predominantly dark clay on Jurassic dolerite in her estate vineyard.

Hand picked, destemmed and left on skins for 8 hours before being pressed off to tank for fermentation. 100% wild ferment. Samantha stops the tank ferment when she feels the sugar to acid balance is right (approx 11 weeks) and then leaves on lees for one further month, stirring fortnightly.

A Riesling with natural acid (2.99 PH) and with 6.7g grams residual it’s an absolute pleasure of a wine that showcases the potential of the Coal River for this variety and how the texture is so very different when you don’t need to acidify this variety.

“Pale yellow with green hints in the glass, the nose shows plenty of spice – freshly grated nutmeg and cardamom pods – along with the trademark Tea Tree apple skin character, and a honeysuckle floral note. On the palate there is plenty of wild fennel crunch combined with a and delicate chamomile laciness. The acid on the palate is salivating and zesty with a positive phenolic edge working seamlessly with the residual sugar to provide shape and balance.” – Samantha Connew – owner + winemaker

Price Bracket $31 to $40
Type White
Body Light Bodied
Variety Riesling
Country Australia
Region Coal River Valley
Australian State TAS
Feature Women in Wine
Size 750ml
Vintage 2026
Closure Screw Cap

Stargazer

Stargazer is the pint-sized Tasmanian passion project of the talented Samantha Connew. Sam is one of the country's most respected wine judges and a greatly influential voice in the Australian wine industry. Stargazer is her one-woman show, focused around Sam's small, beautiful vineyard works in the Coal River Valley.

She only makes tiny parcels of a few wines. Riesling (and Riesling Blends), Chardonnay & Pinot Noir are her chosen varieties. The quality is outstanding across each and every wine and they rightfully sell out in next to no time each year.

The Stargazer range is a set of beautiful, ethereal representations of the Apple Isle.

Samantha Connew in her Vineyard Discover Stargazer

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