Stargazer Chardonnay 2024

Samantha’s best ever Chardonnay? In my mind yes, but I leave you to decide. 2024 growing season a contrast to the three prior cooler/wetter La Nina seasons and this wine is just singing already. Shall be putting some straight to the pool room....
Stargazer use fruit from their own Palisander vineyard in Coal River Valley + sourced from a growers in the Upper Derwent Valley and Richmond. The Stargazer plot was planted in 2017, south facing and is primarily brown dermosol on Jurassic dolerite. Hand picked, whole bunch pressed directly to oak for fermentation. 100% wild ferment in 500L French oak (Mercurey), 20% new. Full malolactic. No lees stirring, left in barrel for 8 months, the blended in tank for 6
weeks before bottling. "Pale straw in colour, on the nose it is all bright fresh lemon peel and ripe white peaches. Custard pastry and cashew nuts with subtle flinty layer add a secondary layer under the primary fruit. The generous stonefruit
upfront on the palate is framed by judicious use of oak, with long flavours of almonds and honeycomb finishing with a pink sea salt briny drive" - Samantha Connew - owner + winemaker