PRESSING MATTERS 2025 CHARDONNAY WINS FRANÇOIS DE CASTELLA TROPHY AND TROPHY FOR BEST TASMANIAN CHARDONNAY AT THEMELBOURNE ROYAL WINE AWARDS 2026
Coal River Valley winery Pressing Matters has won the François de Castella Trophy for Best Young White Wine, and the Trophy for Best Tasmanian Chardonnay, at the 2026 Melbourne Royal Wine Awards.
The 2025 Chardonnay is the first Chardonnay produced by Pressing Matters under the new Fogarty Hall (FH) ownership by its Tasmanian Chief Winemaker Liam McElhinney. Liam is now one of very few winemakers to have won both the François de Castella Trophy for Best Young White Wine and the Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy for Best Young Red (for the Lowestoft La Maison 2022 Pinot Noir).
When excavation for a new winery uncovered an extensive layer of ancient limestone beneath the dark soils of the Pressing Matters Morningside vineyard, the owners knew this was an extraordinary site for Chardonnay. It inspired a new label and deeper commitment to Chardonnay on a site that had focused on Riesling and Pinot Noir. New plantings in 2020 and 2024 will further strengthen the quality of future Chardonnay production from the Morningside vineyard.
Today’s awards confirm that these ancient soils, combined with Tasmania’s cool climate, are capable of producing a single vineyard Chardonnay of remarkable precision, elegance and site expression.
Liam’s tasting notes best summarise the 2025 Chardonnay: “An elegant and finely detailed expression of Tasmania and the Coal River Valley Chardonnay, shaped by the distinctive character of its single vineyard origin. Pure citrus notes of lemon zest, grapefruit pith and preserved lime unfold alongside delicate white blossom and subtle hints of struck quartz. The palate is crystalline and beautifully poised, with a vibrant core of citrus and white stone fruit carried by a fine mineral threat. Taut, precise acidity lends tension and energy, while a delicate, almost saline texture brings depth and quiet complexity.
A Chardonnay of purity, finesse and remarkable persistence.”
The recognition of the Pressing Matters 2025 Chardonnay at the Melbourne Royal Wine Awards follows a Gold Medal at the Royal Adelaide Wine Awards, and 95 Points by James Suckling in his recent global wine reviews which described the wine as follows:
“A knockout bottling, albeit from young vines, with plenty of reductive flair, vibrant citrus and yellow fruits, struck match and wet stones. The palate is tense and flashy with scintillating acidity and a long, slightly salty finish. Plenty of flesh and complexity here, framed by tension and phenolic structure.” jamessuckling.com
250 dozen produced. Available only on allocation to members.
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