Black Label Messenger Chardonnay 2025
Wynns Coonawarra Estate
Black Label Messenger Chardonnay 2025
Overview
Overview
2025 marks the second release of our Single Vineyard Messenger Chardonnay, drawn from the Messenger Vineyard in the southern reaches of Coonawarra’s Terra Rossa strip. First planted in 1993, the site has steadily established itself as a distinctive expression of the varietal within the region.
With its even fruit set and dry harvest period, the 2025 season delivered outstanding conditions for Coonawarra Chardonnay, allowing fully ripe flavour development at lower sugar levels. Hand picking, whole bunch pressing, barrel ageing and malolactic fermentation contributed to a white wine of layered texture, subtle complexity and mouth-watering freshness.
| Varietal | Chardonnay |
|---|---|
| Vintage | 2025 |
| Country | Australia |
| Region | Coonawarra |
| Volume | 750 mL |
| Closure | Screw Cap |
| Alc/Vol | 12.7% |
| Peak Drinking | Now - 2035 |
| Winemaker | Sue Hodder |
Awards and Accolades
Awards and Accolades
| 94 Points | Ray Jordan |
| 94 Points | Tony Love |
| 93 Points | Campbell Mattinson |
| 93 Points | Steve Leszczynski |
Ray Jordan | Wine Pilot | April 2026
"It’s hardly surprising that in good years, like 2025, Chardonnay in Coonawarra can perform exceptionally well. It’s had nine months in oak, 28% of which was new French, and it was a mix of hogsheads and barriques. So the oak has been impeccably handled to highlight the fruit qualities. This is a mighty impressive wine." 94 Points.
Tony Love | Wine Pilot | May 2026
"Sourced from the Messenger vineyard at the southern end of Coonawarra’s Terra Rossa strip, there’s a purity of fruit here to be celebrated without the artefact of winemaking stealing away its essence. White nectarine and lime with a hint of almond cream. The palate mirrors this with tight Chardonnay fruit and green pear, subtle oak, and a soft vanilla note from 9 months in 28% new French oak. Fruit has a distinctive personality here and has been treated with the utmost respect by the most empathetic winemaking." 94 Points.
Taste Description
Taste Description
Nose
Pristine fruit aromas of nectarines, white pears and rockmelon flesh reveal additional layers of lemon meringue and complexing yet subtle white chocolate-like oak.
Viticulture Vintage & Winemaking
Viticulture Vintage & Winemaking
Coonawarra, South Australia
Coonawarra, on South Australia’s Limestone Coast, is a flat, isolated region almost mid-point between Adelaide and Melbourne. The area enjoys a cool maritime climate - similar to that of Bordeaux - and is renowned for its unique terra rossa soil. Rich, rust coloured soils… crimson sunburnt faces… magenta sunsets: this is red wine country! While Coonawarra is famous for its rich, minty Cabernet, the area also produces Shiraz and Merlot and surprisingly good Chardonnay and Riesling.
Sue Hodder - Senior Winemaker
Sue Hodder is one of Australia’s best-known winemakers and this year celebrates her 27th vintage with Wynns – making wine from wonderful, expressive fruit grown in the heart of the terra rossa. Sue commenced her career as a viticulturist and believes her early viticultural training – assessing vines, analysing mature fruit and tasting the finished wine – gave her an invaluable insight into the importance of the vineyard in quality winemaking.
Sue brings valuable experience with vintages in other noted wine regions around the world and has judged extensively in Regional, National and International wine shows. She is the recipient of many accolades including GT Wines ‘Winemaker of the Year’ in 2010 (with viticulturist Allen Jenkins); and most recently ‘Winemaker of the Year’ (with Sarah Pidgeon) at the 2016 ASVO awards.