Description
TROPHYS – Best Pinot Noir and overall Champion Wine of Show – 2026 Tasmanian Wine Show
GOLD medal, 95 Points, 2025 Royal Melbourne Wine Awards.
“Wine that is made for love, not profit” – James Halliday
Dawson James was born of a friendship and winemaking partnership between Peter Dawson and Tim James. With a collective experience of more than 80 vintages, the opportunity of making world class Pinot Noir and Chardonnay drew them to Tasmania. The cool and dry climate, hungry soils and 30 + year-old vines grow grapes with great depth of flavour and intensity of character. Their winemaking philosophy is based on picking fruit with a natural balance of flavour and acidity. A very simple approach to winemaking allows fruit quality to shine through.
About the Island Belle label: “Island Belle is our calling card based on our established winemaking approach and philosophy.”
“The grapes are sourced from the Meadowbank vineyard in the Derwent Valley, Tasmania, utilizing patches of younger vines and new clones that we expect to evolve into Dawson James wines over time. All of the grapes are hand picked and gently processed to retain a pure expression of fruit and vineyard characteristics. The wines are fermented and matured in seasoned high quality French oak barrels that have been used for previous vintages of Dawson James.
“Island Belle Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines highlight fruit purity, flavour and softness combined with our hallmark bright acidity. They are approachable when young but retain structure for longevity.
“Island Belle has its own identity with a label that is evocative of discovery and beauty. The island state of Tasmania and a nod to the Belle Epoque.”
About this wine: The 2024 growing season was drier than normal with temperatures being slightly higher than the long term average. The grapes were hand picked on 21st March, three weeks earlier than the previous vintage with both MV6 and 115 clone Pinot Noir being used. Forty percent of whole bunches were retained for inclusion in open fermenters which were allowed to undergo fermentation with naturally occurring wild yeast. Following a short maceration on skins at the finish of fermentation the wine was basket pressed and transferred to well-seasoned French oak barriques for maturation.
The wine has vivid colour with lifted aromas of black cherries and savoury, bunchy notes. The palate has a creamy texture, combining ripe red fruits with gentle tannins and soft, lingering natural acidity.
95 points, Dave Brookes, Halliday Wine Companion “As I write this, I’ve just returned from judging at the 2026 Tasmanian Wine Show, where this particular wine picked up the top pinot noir trophy and the Champion Wine of Show. And it’s an absolute cracker. Gorgeous ripe fruit (thank you ’24 vintage), daubed with exotic spice and struck-flint complexity, high tones of citrus blossom and raspberry and an air of effortless drinkability. The price makes this an absolute no-brainer. It’s a great little wine.”
For a limited time – and while stocks last – Our Special Introductory Price $34.99 when you buy 6 or more of this wine
