Stargazer Pinot Noir 2025

This wine is sourced exclusively from Stargazer’s own Palisander vineyard in the Tea Tree subregion of Coal River Valley. Two separate parcels of Pinot Noir, planted in 2002 and 2017 respectively.

Primarily brown dermosol on Jurassic dolerite, the plant material is a combination of clones, the majority of which is G5V12 or Wadenswil, along with D5V15. The 2025 also includes clones Abel, 115, 777 and MV6 from the blocks planted in 2017, and the more recently planted Pommard and 667 from 2021. It is all cane pruned and trained to a vertical shoot positioned canopy.

The 777 clone was 100% whole bunch with the remaining clones fermented with varying degrees of whole bunch from 0-55%, the overall amount of whole bunch in the wine ending up at 33% with the remainder destemmed but not crushed. Cold soaked for three days pre ferment, then basket pressed off to French oak puncheons (Francois Freres, Mercurey and Damy), 25% new. 8 months elevage in oak with a further 8 weeks in tank.

“Bright ruby crimson in colour, the nose immediately shows some juniper berry and green cardamom spice which opens to reveal a lively combination of red and black fruits. Red liquorice and rosehip tea dominate, but there is some chinotto and fenugreek there also. The palate is refined, compact and coiled, lithe tannins coming in early and supporting the ample fruit right through to the finish.” – Samantha Connew