2017 Dawson & James Chardonnay, Derwent Valley

Delicate and lifted, with hints of lemon and lime curd, flinty struck match and white peach, then to a palate of tropical stone fruit, pineapple and white almond.

96 points decanter.com World Wine Awards

Light yellow hue, with a smoky-reductive and very complex nose. The oak is distinctive. There is refinement and lemony tension on the palate. It has more to give in time. Excellent. 17 JAN 2019 Drink 2019–2029

95 points Huon Hooke therealreview.com

From the Meadowbank Vineyard, whole-bunch pressed, fermented in very high quality French barriques (40% new), 50% mlf, which it absolutely needed, 8 months on lees. Every atom of this wine was taken into account in the vinification. It is immaculately balanced, the fruit with a delicacy not so often achieved in Tasmania, the finish pristine.

96 points James Halliday winecompanion.com.au August 2019

Dawson and James Chardonnay is a beautifully precise expression of the Derwent Valley in southern Tasmania, a region shaped by cool maritime influences, long daylight hours and slow, even ripening. The vineyards sit along the River Derwent where free draining sandy loams over sandstone and dolerite help naturally limit vigour and build flavour without weight. This is a landscape that rewards patience, and Chardonnay thrives here, developing citrus clarity, fine texture and natural acidity rather than overt richness. Dawson and James is a small, detail driven Tasmanian producer with a strong focus on site expression and balance, working closely with local growers and handling fruit gently to preserve purity.

The winemaking philosophy is quietly confident and deliberately restrained. Fruit is picked early enough to capture freshness, then fermented with care to build texture and complexity without masking vineyard character. Oak is used thoughtfully and in moderation, adding subtle savoury depth rather than dominance. The aim is always to let the Derwent Valley speak through the wine, highlighting tension, length and finesse rather than power. This approach places Dawson and James firmly in the modern Tasmanian tradition of elegant, age worthy Chardonnay.

In the glass the wine shows a pale gold colour with green highlights. Aromas open with lemon zest, white peach and nectarine, followed by hints of almond meal, struck flint and gentle spice. The palate is finely layered and poised, offering citrus and stone fruit wrapped in a chalky, mineral texture and driven by bright natural acidity. There is a saline freshness on the finish that reflects the cool river valley setting and gives the wine real persistence. It pairs beautifully with oysters, grilled fish, roast chicken and creamy mushroom dishes, and it has the structure to age gracefully for seven to ten years, gaining more nutty, savoury and brioche like complexity over time.

Dawson and James Chardonnay is a refined and thoughtful Tasmanian white, capturing the quiet intensity of the Derwent Valley and showcasing how purity, restraint and site driven winemaking can deliver real depth and longevity.