Stargazer 2023 Tupelo

Stargazer is one of Tasmania's star boutique labels with winemaker Samantha Connew renowned for producing wines with plenty of palate interest and textural elements. Made in tiny quantities in a difficult year, this is an outstanding tribute to Alsace, a wild fermented white blend that features pinot gris, pinot blanc, riesling and gewurztramer as its key elements. There are waves of flavours on the palate, with ripe white pear, spice notes and honeyed characters, just a smidge of residual sugar, and plenty of length with a stylishly smooth finish. A white wine that red wine drinkers will love for its complexity. All the fruit is from the Coal River Valley, just down the road from Hobart Airport, delivered by several different growers. $35. https://www.stargazerwine.com.au/

Holyman 2021 Chardonnay

 

It is always difficult deciding which of the Holyman/Stoney Rise wines to review. Joe and Lou Holyman are consistently excellent producers across both ranges. This is absolutely top-notch cool-climate Tamar Valley chardonnay; pure, precise and poised. There is plenty of action on the palate here with myriad flavours and textures, but the end result is impressively mellifluous. If you find some of this snap it up. It's in the zone. $60.  https://www.stoneyrise.com/   

Moorilla Muse 2018 Gewurztraminer

Moorilla winemaker Conor van der Reest likes to push the boundaries a little - and this is certainly not what you would expect in a 375ml dessert wine bottles. It is powerful. quiet dry white wine that has been fermented on skins with wild yeast and is made from very ripe fruit grown at the St Matthias vineyard outside Launceston. Perfect for pairing with pates, terrines, or blue cheeses, we matched it with a sweet and sour pork dish and it more than held its own: It is spicy, rich and intense and has been aged aged for five years in bottle. Higher in alcohol than most white wines and with Turkish Delight/musky aromatics on the nose and with viscous ripe tropical fruit flavours on the palate. Be adventurous. $25. https://shop.moorilla.com.au/

The Odd Couple 2022 Pinot Noir

 

When David Lloyd "retired" and sold his Eldridge Estate wine business on the Mornington Peninsula, he still wanted to keep his hand in. So he journeys to the US each year to make some vino, and also has a joint venture with his long-time friend Michael Twelftree of Barossa Valley producer Two Hands. Lloyd is now based in Tasmania and can oversee the 18-year-old Middle Tea Tree vineyard in the Coal River Valley from where the pair source fruit for their Odd Couple Pinot Noir. The wines are made at Twelftree's facility. The new-release 2022 is an absolute stunner; a gentle, delicate, elegant, nuanced and rather delicious cool-climate pinot that shines when paired with food. It becomes a tad sturdier 24 hours after being opened. $65. https://www.twohandswines.com/?s=Tasmania