Jansz 2021 Vintage Cuvée

 

Looking for a treat for Mother's Day? Jansz has always been one of the "go to" labels for quality cool-climate Tasmanian sparkling wine at fair prices. This is a standout example - and a very good choice for just about any celebration. A classic blend of hand-picked chardonnay and pinot noir, it offers a melange of freshness and maturity - with lively citrus on the nose and hints of toasty brioche on the palate. Barrel fermentation and three years of lees ageing has added palate complexity. This would pair with a brunch by the pool, or a whole fish on the barbecue, or just for sipping on the back deck with canapes. Available at Dan Murphy's, BWS, and independent retailers. $56. https://www.jansz.com.au/

Henskens Rankin 2019 Brut Rosé

 

Frieda Henskens and David Rankin craft tiny batches of outstanding sparkling wines in a former apple shed in the Huon Valley, They source small amounts of fruit from some of the best vineyards in Tasmania and only release their wines when they have reached their peak. Only 900 bottles of this sublime brut rosé were made from a multi-regional blend of 69% chardonnay and 31% pinot noir, so speed might be of the essence if you are tempted. This stylish and sophisticated wine would certainly be an impressive choice for toasting the new year. Berry and tropical fruit flavours canoodle with toasty/brioche notes on a palate that finishes with fresh saline acidity. Very impressive. $105. https://henskensrankin.com/  

Tolpuddle 2024 Chardonnay

 

Over the past decade, the Tolpuddle vineyard in Tasmania's Coal River Valley has emerged as one of Australia's great single vineyard sites. Planted only with chardonnay and pinot noir, the wines it produces have gained global acclaim for their elegance. While the 2024 Tolpuddle Pinot Noir is also very impressive, this is my pick of the duo - just. From an excellent vintage for quality, this is taut; brilliantly poised with grapefruit and lemon sorbet notes to the fore on the palate, which has astutely judged acidity, minerality, concentration and just a hint of oaky nuttiness. A perfect example of the vinous excellence of which which Tasmania is capable. Pair with a rare tuna dish. Be quick. it has probably already sold out. $120.  https://www.tolpuddlevineyard.com/

Penfolds 2024 Bin 311 Chardonnay

 

This one of the affordable stars of the new-release Penfolds Collection 2025, which hit the stores this week. It is a tribute to the quality of cool-climate chardonnay grapes from Tasmania that they play a key role in this outstanding multi-regional chardonnay blend, along with fruit from the Adelaide Hills and Tumbarumba in NSW. This is a confident chardonnay with a some strut and swagger about it. It is a poised, composed wine with lovely balance between citrus/white peach flavours, minerality and astutely judged new and seasoned oak, which provides backbone without detracting from the fruit. There is purity and precision in abundance. A very good year; a very fine wine. 95/1000 from me. $55. www.penfolds.com.

Small Island 2024 Chardonnay

 

James Broinowski's Small Island Wines is one of the rising stars of the Tasmanian wine industry. The first wines were produced using crowd sourcing and a decade along the business is producing some excellent drinking at fair prices. This impressively balanced cool-climate chardonnay comes from vines at Saltwater River on the Tasman Peninsula, around an hour east of Hobart, one of Broinowski's regular sources of grapes. This is a young wine, but the quality fruit from the single vineyard shines through - as does short-term potential for cellaring, although it  already has "come hither" accessibility. $49. https://smallislandwines.com/