Dawson James, Tasmania Chardonnay

When Peter Dawson and Tim James met in 1976, while working at Hardy & Sons, it set in motion a lifelong friendship culminating in the founding of Dawson James; a critically acclaimed Tasmanian winery focused on cool-climate expressions of Australian Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. This duo collectively has 80 vintages worth of experience under their belt, and it is therefore unsurprising that Dawson James has fast become one of Tasmania’s leading wineries for quality and innovation.

At its core, Dawson James is a single vineyard project centred on the ‘Meadowbank Vineyard’, located 60 kilometres northwest of Hobart. The area is characterised by its rugged topography and the fast-flowing, pristine waters of the Derwent River. Planted in 1989 with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, the ‘Meadowbank Vineyard’ sits 70 metres above the Derwent River with a north-easterly aspect, meaning it benefits from optimal sunlight exposure during the ripening season. Yet it is the soil which has the most significant impact on style and flavour. A combination of sandy loams, structured clays and sandstone naturally limits vine vigour, resulting in a perfect balance between fruit intensity and acidity.

The Dawson James Chardonnay captures the minerality of the ‘Meadowbank Vineyard’, combined with varietal fruit characters and extra layers of complexity from partial malolactic fermentation and finely integrated oak. The Pinot Noir offers appealing delicacy with finely woven red berry fruit, silky tannins and sweet spice from the French oak, sourced from a Burgundian cooperage. Vintage after vintage these wines attract judges' attention at international wine shows and in 2021, the 2018 wines won trophies at the International Wine Challenge for Best Tasmanian Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.