Stargazer/Tupelo Tasmania Coal River Valley 2024 Pinot Gris/Riesling/Gewuztraminer/Pinot Blanc

 Ok, so Tasmania appears to be doing, unbeknown to moi, the combo grape variety wine, when I thought Tasmanian was all about predictable varieties such as Chardonnay, Riesling, Sav Blanc and Pinto Noir. But, no, it does Gewurz, Pinot Blanc, Gamay and, wait for it, Chenin Blanc. See my post below that notes a not-dissimilar mix: Atom 2022 Entropic White: Gewuztraminer, Riesling, Pinot Gris.

This bottle invests in a quirky print maker, Kate Piekutowski, whom I've come across on Instagram. 

So it's light gold in colour. It has a perfume of pear  and jube (possibly red). On the palate, it is surprisingly full-ish and actually not sweet (on a second tasting with a day or so in between), thank the goddesses. A little too sharp on the end palate for such a mix. But wait, maybe waiting even more, the end palate is between savoury and sweet and seems finely balanced. 

The branding IS CONFUSING (yes, all caps deliberate) because I looked up Tupelo and could not find a devoted website under that name, which turns out to be Stargazer, which you have to look for on the back label of the bottle.  I am sure it has an explanation - but wait, there is another mixed variety wine with a different subtitle/name - but I was too tired to look for such. 

Atom 2022 Entropic White: Gewuztraminer, Riesling, Pinot Gris

 This Atom wine is a lovely, pale-golden yellow in colour. Salty in perfume. Long palate, that is high syrupy in the middle and  rich and lemony at the end. Savoury with a hint of sweetness. Atom wines are based in the south of Tasmania, at Lindisfarne is a suburb of the capital of Tasmania Hobart's Eastern Shore,

Gala Rose 2023 Tasmania

Gala Rose, along with Small Wonders Rose, are two of the best among Tasmanian Roses. Tasmanian Roses are usually Pinot Noir based ... 'cause PR does so well in a cool climate. In colour and perfume, the Gala is shy, and a  light but on-the-border-of- showy pink in colour, and in perfume, something of sea-water and an unperfumed rose that's about to have a perfume, or wishes longingly that it did. On the initial palate, it is fullish, and ends very drily. And after swallowing it down comes the knowing that it's a lovely elegant, sophisticated wine, with a sense of mature and assured making. 

Eastford Creek Vineyard Tasmania Pinot Gris 2024

Eastford Creeks 2024 Pinot Gris is rustic, light-bronze golden with a pink tinge. A pink tinge is always good in a Pinot Gris. And this is no exception. Think Zendaya's (why go for a single name?) dress at the Golden Globes 2025 but less copper/tangerine. In perfume it is peachy and on the palate fruity too, perhaps apricot, with a lightly backgrounded spice such as cinnamon or nutmeg or Chinese five-spice. It's a dry PG with a sophisticated and elegant palate. https://eastfordcreek.com.au/  I often stop here on a Friday for a glass of wine on my way home to Shearwater from a writers' group in Deloraine, Tasmania. And everything is interesting: the outlook, weather, wine choice. 

Small Wonder Riesling

 Though I love the Small Wonder Rose, the Riesling was not great. Much too sharp perhaps, no depth. Tamar Valley. 

Nocton Estate Chardonnay

 Coal River Valley, Southern Tasmania. The Chardy is perhaps too lemony for my taste. But Nocton is the first to make a Chenin Blanc in Tasmania. 

Devil's Corner 2022 Riesling

 Surprisingly good, given I am used to Clare Valley Riesling., and given that Devil's Corner can be run-of-the-mill.