Utzinger wines kind of happened by accident. One of the oldest stories going around... Swiss winemaker goes travelling the world to find a vineyard to establish as his own, meets a Tasmanian woman in Iran and so develops his own winery in the Tamar Valley region or something along those lines. Based in the Tamar Valley in Legana, Utzinger is the realised dream of Matthias Utzinger, a Zurich native and his now wife Lauren and their children. They planted 20ha of land on Upper McEwans Road, after establishing the brand in 2017 with grapes purchased in and around the region.
Fast forward to now, the couple's estate-grown wines are products of their vineyard's 4ha of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc and Shiraz. They also make wines onsite for others.
The 2020 Chardonnay is a ripper - very Tamar dare I say. The nose packs a punch of stone fruit - white peach, nectarine and apricot with citrus flowers, pineapple and honey. The creamy rich palate develops as it makes its way across the tongue, delivering a stunning acid profile, a medium body and a flinty character to boot.
It is complex, stylish and eminently drinkable while retaining a punchy fruit driven freshness and lovely hints of vanilla and spice from the french oak and time on lees. It has a juicy fruited length, replete with yoghurt and yeasty flavours to complete the experience.
This is new world, cold climate chardonnay at its most exciting. Tasmania has long been a producer of some of our finest chardonnay and this wine is no exception.
RRP $33 - online or at select retailers
TAS | 2020 | Tamar Valley | 13% ABV