The National Wine Show of Australia
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Catalogue THE NATIONAL WINE SHOW OF AUSTRALIA 2016 The National Wine Show of Australia is proudly supported by the following sponsors: Table of contents The Royal National Capital Agricultural Society 1 Message from the Chair of Judges 2 Judges and Associates 4 Committee and Stewards 10 Judging and Results 11 Trophies 12 Len Evans Memorial Trophy Winners 15 Dry White Table Wines 16 Sweet White Table Wines 29 Rosé Table Wines 30 Dry Red Table Wines 31 Wines of Provenance 56 Bottle Fermented Sparkling Wines 57 Non-Bottle Fermented Sparkling Wines 59 Fortified Wines 60 Exhibitors 64 The Royal National Capital Agricultural Society Society Patron Organising Committee ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr MLA • Andy Gregory, Chair National Wine Show Patron • Michele Norris, Deputy Chair James Halliday AM • David George • Andrew Moore President • Deanna Riddell Michael Kennedy • Jad James Chief Executive Officer • Steven Hall Ben Copeman • James Gallagher, Consultant Wine Show Advisory Panel • James Willson, Advisor • James Halliday AM Judging Dates • Jim Chatto, Chair of Judges 15-18 November 2016, Exhibition Park in Canberra • Tom Carson • Andy Gregory Page 1 Message from the Chair of Judges It is a great honour to be able to present the complete catalogue of results and especially the list of trophy winning wines. This year the team of judges tasted and deliberated their way through some 1132 wines across 160 Australian producers. Judging took place over three days, culminating in the taste off for the trophy winning wines. The major awards were shared by no less than 14 producers, across 11 regions and 5 states; attesting greatly to the extraordinary breadth and depth of Australian winemaking today. Our team of judges brought together an extraordinary degree of experience across many different fields of the Australian (and New Zealand) wine industries. This year we had winemakers, sommeliers, retailers, distributors and a viticulturist, each bringing their own expertise and adding greatly to the discussion and ultimately the results presented here. Our four Panel Chairs are some of the most experienced wine show judges in the southern hemisphere, and all great winemakers in their own right. This level of talent brings real depth to the team. They were: Tom Carson Chair of The Royal Melbourne Wine Awards (past Chair of The National Wine Show of Australia) Warren Gibson Chair of the New Zealand Wine Awards PJ Charteris Chair of NSW Wine Awards (past chair of Royal Brisbane Wine Awards) Andrew Spinaze Chair of Royal Perth Wine Show Highlights Whites Riesling from the 2012, 2015 and 2016 vintages really shone, with some lovely expressive wines of great length and purity, really impressing the judges. Semillon performed very well with 8 gold medals across 39 entries, an astonishing 20% strike rate. A wonderful 2009 Hunter Valley Semillon, still with years of improvement, took out the trophy for best Dry White Table Wine. Also a set of Semillons from the same producer was awarded this year’s White Wine of Provenance Trophy. Chardonnay from 2012, 2013 and 2015 vintages impressed the judges, with some great examples out of the Hunter Valley, Yarra Valley, Margaret River and Adelaide Hills and all vying for the top awards. The strength of the 2015 vintage was evidenced by the 11 golds representing a 13% strike rate. That said, in the end it was an incredibly fresh, complex and textured 2012 Chardonnay from the Yarra Valley that took line honours. Reds The recent vintages of 2014 and 2015 shone, with some great examples of Shiraz, Cabernet, Pinot Noir and ‘Mediterranean’ varietals and blends thereof, across many regions, being awarded high medals. Pinot Noir from the great 2015 vintage, really captivated the judges. Evidenced by 7 golds medals being awarded across only 40 entries. An extraordinary strike right of 17.5%! Total medals in this class was 67.5%. The leading Pinot states of Tasmania and Victoria lead the charge; the top two wines are super examples from Tasmania. Shiraz was another standout with wines from 2013, 2014 and 2015 being awarded 20 golds from some 300 entries (~7%) and from no less than 11 regions, and a diverse range of styles, demonstrating the diversity and adaptability Page 2 of our single most planted variety. I am very happy to say that for the first time in 12 years the prestigious Len Evans Trophy for Best Wine of Show has been awarded to a Shiraz. Emerging varietals, and blends thereof, fared very well with the judges this year; look at the results in classes 22, 23 and 24. Some really exciting Grenache (and blends), Tempranillo (and blends), as well as a Touriga Nacional and a Montepulciano generated great discussion and enjoyment with the judging team. A beautifully composed yet expressive Grenache came within a hare’s breath of the coveted best Dry Red Table Wine Trophy. Last year I said that I believe there is real synergy in many parts of Australia for emerging varieties hailing from the coastal regions of Portugal, Spain, France, Italy and Greece. They sit so well with our warmer climates, the lifestyle, and the cuisine that goes with it. Upon approaching one of the Panel Chairs (PJ Charteris) during one of these classes. I enquired where they were (in reference to progress through the judging) he said, with great excitement: “we are in the future!”. In their third year, the Wine of Provenance classes, were exemplary. The provenance awards are designed to recognise and celebrate vineyards and wines of exceptional provenance, reflecting consistency of style and quality over time. This year’s winners were a set of Semillons (2016, 2009 and 2005) from the Hunter Valley and a set of Shiraz (2015, 2009 and 2005) from the Canberra District. Go Canberra! It’s always a tough task awarding the Chairman’s Award. I generally look for a wine of excellent quality and character that may have been a little unlucky in the trophy judging (there are always a few). This year it came down to two wines: a beautifully expressive cool climate Shiraz from Canberra (see top gold in class 17) and a stunning Pinot Noir from Southern Tasmania (see equal top gold in class 14), displaying seductive fruit purity and an expansive finish. However, I only get to choose one and it was one of my favourite wines during the week of judging…the glorious Tasmanian Pinot. On behalf of the RNCAS, the Show Committee and the judging team, I would like to thank all the exhibitors for supporting the National Wine Show of Australia. To all the award winners, I look forward to seeing how these results contribute to your future success and the success of great Australian wine internationally. Jim Chatto Page 3 Judges and Associates Jim Chatto, Chair of Judges Jim Chatto is Chief Winemaker for McWilliam’s Wines, responsible for the winemaking and stylistic direction across the McWilliam’s portfolio including: Mount Pleasant (Hunter Valley) Brand’s Laira (Coonawarra), Evans & Tate (Margaret River), McWilliam’s Hanwood Estate (Griffith) & Barwang (Hilltops). In 2009 Jim was named Hunter Valley Winemaker of the Year, and in 2010 was a Gourmet Traveller WINE Winemaker of the Year finalist. Jim is a senior wine show judge with over fifteen years’ experience across both regional and capital city shows. Jim has been Chairman of Judges at the Hunter Valley Wine Show (2012-2014) and the McLaren Vale Wine Show from 2014. Tom Carson, Panel Chair Chief Winemaker at Yabby Lake Vineyard on the Mornington Peninsula. A previous Chairman of the National Wine Show. Tom is currently Chairman of the Royal Melbourne Wine Awards. A keen golfer who plays off 6. Warren Gibson, Panel Chair Warren was educated at Massey University, New Zealand, and at Roseworthy Agricultural College. In 2005, Warren was named “New Zealand Winemaker of the Year” by “Winestate” magazine. In 2015, Warren spent time as visiting Winemaker on a Walter, Carew and Richard Reynell Fellowship as guest of the University of Adelaide mentoring the Hickinbotham Roseworthy Oenology students. Warren is about to embark on his 20th vintage at Trinity Hill, currently as Chief Winemaker. He also heads the viticultural team and has control over their vineyards. Andrew Spinaze, Panel Chair Andrew is the senior winemaker for Tyrrells Wines based in the Hunter Valley. His forte is making Semillon but he finds great reward in making premium Chardonnay. Andrew was a finalist in 1999 for QANTAS Gourmet Traveller WINE Winemaker of the Year and was awarded Winemaker of the Year in 2004. He was also Hunter Valley Winemaker of the Year in 2007. Andrew has been judging wine for many years and is currently Chief Judge at the Perth Royal Wine show. Page 4 PJ Charteris, Panel Chair PJ’s knowledge and palate have seen his involvement in the show system as a senior wine show judge for over 20 years with experience across both regional and capital city wine shows. PJ is currently the Chairman of Judges for the Hunter Valley Wine Show, The Royal Queensland Wine Show and the NSW Wine Awards. He has also worked closely as a spokesperson for Wine Australia on the international stage. Today PJ runs Charteris Wine Consulting and his own small label, Charteris Wines from Bannockburn, Central Otago New Zealand. Matthew Brooke, Judge Matthew is currently a Sommelier in Melbourne but more recently has focused on his wine business as one half of sommelier and wine-making duo ‘Athletes Of Wine’. Career highlights include being a Len Evan Tutorial Scholar in 2014 along with a number of Gourmet Traveller WINE awards and finalist in the Best Sommelier of Australia Competition. He has completed the Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) courses, has been a scholar for the Sommeliers Australia Education Program and also Court of Master Sommeliers certified.