2014 Stardust Traditional Method

STORY OF THE STARDUST

The 2014 Stardust marks the third release of this special cuvee following on the success of the ’11 and ’13 vintages. Named in honour of Mr. Bowie himself,  This elegant blend of estate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir is a traditional method sparkler made to showcase the best of our estate fruit. 

VINEYARD

The Pinot Noir was selected from our North Block planting of Pinot Noir, specifically our 459 Block. Chardonnay was selected from our South Block planting after an excellent period of late ripening throughout late August and early September.

GROWING SEASON

The 2014 growing season was quite the whirlwind! The early stretch of 2014 did not portend an excellent season, due to frequently rainy conditions throughout May and the early portion of summer. However, the season bounced back exceptionally with a dry and sunny September, allowing for hangtimes later into the season. This had the added benefit of providing the estate fruit and extra level of flavor maturation when harvested.  

HARVEST

Hand harvesting took place on Sept 21 and 23rd, taking advantage of an elongated autumn growing season. The mild end to the September 2014 blossomed into one of the finest late seasons over 24 years of viticulture at our estate vineyard.

WINEMAKING

The Chardonnay was cluster pressed and tank fermented before being barrelled down and the Pinot Noir was entirely fermented in neutral French oak. Elevage en barrique lasted for eight months prior to bottling, unfiltered, in June 2015, before being left to rest in our cellar for over eight years. Tasting to determine the qualities and potential of this wine began in the fall of 2023, a total of nine years from the initial vintage. At this time, the winemaking team ascertained that this would continue to be a brut nature, or zero dosage sparkling wine. Altogether, this sophisticated cuvee spent a grand total of 110 months in bottle prior to disgorging and finishing in July of 2024.