2024 Utzinger Black Label Chardonnay, Tamar Valley

The Utzinger Black Label Chardonnay from Tasmania’s Tamar Valley is a refined and quietly complex wine from one of the island’s most intriguing small producers. Vigneron and winemaker Justin Utzinger brings a deeply thoughtful, almost meditative approach to winemaking, focusing on site expression, restraint, and purity. His vineyards sit on the eastern slopes of the Tamar River, where cool breezes and ancient soils provide ideal conditions for Chardonnay with detail and poise.

The Black Label range represents the top tier of Utzinger’s production, selected from the finest parcels and crafted with a minimalist touch. Fruit is handpicked and whole-bunch pressed, then fermented with wild yeasts in French oak, with a portion going through malolactic fermentation. The wine is left on lees for extended maturation, building texture and complexity without ever tipping into heaviness.

In the glass, it opens with white peach, nectarine and lemon curd, interwoven with subtle notes of struck match, hazelnut and wet stone. The palate is taut and elegant, driven by a cool-climate acid line and gentle phenolic grip that gives structure and length. It’s a Chardonnay that speaks softly but leaves a lasting impression.

This wine is a natural match for Tasmanian crayfish with lemon butter, roast chicken with tarragon, or grilled celeriac with almond cream. While delicious now, it will evolve gracefully over the next six to eight years.