2018 CATALOGUE OF RESULTS The Royal Melbourne Wine Awards (RMWA) is Australia’s most respected wine show recognising and rewarding excellence in Australian winemaking. — Conducted by The Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria (RASV) and renowned both nationally and internationally as one of Australia’s largest and most prestigious wine award programs, RMWA are continually developing with new classes and categories to ensure their industry relevance and value. THE ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF VICTORIA (RASV) THANKS THE FOLLOWING PARTNERS AND SUPPORTERS FOR THEIR INVOLVEMENT. PRESENTING PARTNER MAJOR SPONSOR EVENT TICKETING PARTNER TROPHY SPONSORS 2018 Catalogue of Results The Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria Limited ABN 66 006 728 785 ACN 006 728 785 Melbourne Showgrounds Epsom Road Ascot Vale VIC 3032 Telephone +61 3 9281 7444 Facsimile +61 3 9281 7592 www.rasv.com.au List of Office Bearers As at 28/08/2018 Patron Her Excellency the Honourable Linda Dessau AC – Governor of Victoria Board of Directors MJ (Matthew) Coleman (President) DS (Scott) Chapman (Deputy President) CGV (Catherine) Ainsworth D (Darrin) Grimsey AJ (Alan) Hawkes NE (Noelene) King OAM PJB (Jason) Ronald OAM Chief Executive Officer P. Guerra Company Secretary J. Perry Organising Committee Angie Bradbury (Chair) Matt Harrop (Chair of Judges) Tom Carson Samantha Isherwood Manager Michael Katoa Event Coordinator, Food Kirsten Stubbings Telephone: +61 3 9281 7440 & Beverage Email: [email protected] Contents CEO’s Message 3 Chair of Judges’ Report 5 Judges’ Biographies 6 2018 Major Trophy Winners 14 2018 Trophy Winners 17 Consistency of Excellence Medal 19 2018 Report on Entries 21 Past Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy Winners 22 2018 Results 24 Best Sparkling Best Riesling Best Chardonnay Best Semillon Best Sauvignon Blanc or Blend of Semillon & Sauvignon Blanc Best Single Varietal White Best White Blend Best Sweet White Wine Best Rosé Best Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Associated Varieties Best Single Varietal Red Best Grenache, GSM and Associated Varieties Best Shiraz/Cabernet Blend Best Red Blend Best Mature Wine Best Organic or Biodynamic Wine Exhibitors List 101 Royal Melbourne 2 Wine Awards CEO’s Message PAUL GUERRA RASV CEO Congratulations to all of our 2018 Royal Melbourne Wine Awards winners! This is a wonderful way for us to recognise you and your wineries. Thank you for your continued dedication as without you and your entries, we wouldn’t be able to run these awards. Your commitment to the Royal Melbourne Wine Awards means we have a fantastic benchmarking competition, uniquely suited to you, enabling you to truly see where you stand in the industry, compare your wines and skills with your peers, and receive valuable feedback from our experienced judges. There is much history attached to these awards, and with that history comes much prestige. Our medals and trophies are recognised both nationally and internationally, giving consumers the knowledge that they are purchasing the best of the best Australian wines. Each year, we are honoured to have an experienced panel of judges with expert knowledge for the awards and this year, our judges are led by Matt Harrop. The 2018 awards was Matt’s first year as Chair of Judges and his many years of experience as a winemaker in Australia and internationally, and as a wine judge and committee member, were welcomed and well-matched to this honoured and respected role. I would like to take a moment thank the Royal Melbourne Wine Awards Committee, led by Committee Chair Angie Bradbury, for their time and support, making sure this year’s awards ran smoothly. I would also like to mention our sponsors, Portavin Integrated Wine Services, Plumm, Kubota Australia, Labelhouse, and Seabrook Wines and our ticketing partner Eventbrite, without whom we would not be able to run such successful awards each year. What better way to celebrate wine than to have a dedicated awards celebration! We at the Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria are honoured to continue this 134-year-old tradition and we look forward to bringing these awards to you each year. Paul Guerra Chief Executive Officer Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria Royal Melbourne 3 Wine Awards GRE AT A USTR ALIAN WINE D E SE RVE S A GRE AT A USTR ALIAN G L A SS Australian owned and designed, Plumm takes every glass of wine to the next level. Proudly in over 1000 of Australia’s best restaurants, our European crystal wine glasses are both beautiful and functional in their simplicity. When you pour it in Plumm you know you’ll enjoy wine at its best. P L U M M . C O M P L U MMWIN EG L A S S E S P L U MMWIN EG L A S S E S Chair of Judges’ Report MR MATT HARROP RMWA CHAIR OF JUDGES Another Royal Melbourne Wine Awards has been completed. Over four days, 35 judges and 14 associates tasted in excess of 3200 wines. As Chair of Judges, I was in the privileged position of overseeing a wonderful week of tasting and present to you, the exhibiters, the results. The RMWA has grown over the years to be the largest wine show in Australia. The wine show committee, headed by Angie Bradbury, has worked closely with the RASV to ensure every aspect of the show is carried out in the most professional manner possible. As custodians of our industries most coveted trophies, it is essential the RMWA is administered and operated at the highest level of excellence. The team here at the RASV have worked tirelessly to ensure the judging process was as smooth as possible. I acknowledge and thank the stewards, led by Su Pettitt and her assistants JP Last and Garry Shotter and the back of house team led by Ania Ligas and her assistant Bryan Jones. A huge thank you to the RASV team who made the show such a success; Michael Katoa, Kirsten Stubbings, Victoria Robinson and the IT crew of Glenn Goodwin and Andrew Toms. To all exhibiters, thank you for entering. Congratulations on your trophy and medal wins, the calibre of competition was incredibly high. As usual, compelling wines were found in all classes, with Chardonnay, Shiraz, Cabernet and Riesling all world class. The other red and white classes continue to grow, no doubt these classes will gain importance in years to come. In my first year of Chair, I am delighted with the results and look forward to seeing your continued support of the RMWA. Mr Matt Harrop RMWA Chair of Judges Royal Melbourne 5 Wine Awards Judges’ Biographies CHRIS TYRELL JULIAN LANGWORTHY PANEL CHAIR PANEL CHAIR Chris Tyrrell is the fifth generation of Tyrrell family winemaking A passion for regionally distinctive wines led Julian Langworthy to dynasty, alongside his sister Jane and brother John. Chris’ began Deep Woods Estate and home to Margaret River his winery apprenticeship in 2001, the first vintage after the after passing of his grandfather and Australian winemaking legend Murray LISA JENKINS Tyrrell. From then on Chris has worked with his family’s wine PANEL CHAIR company. In between vintages he worked in the sales and marketing A qualified chef, Lisa made the move from the back of house to the department until the end 2005 when he returned to work full time front early in her hospitality career. Her synergy with food and wine in the winery. From 2006 through 2014 Chris was the assistant held her in great stead as manager at the City Wine Shop for close winemaker working with two of the great modern day Hunter Valley to eight years. winemakers, Chief Winemaker Andrew Spinaze and Red Winemaker A new direction in career came about in 2016 taking on the role Mark Richardson. In late 2014 Chris was promoted to the role of Sales Manager for Mac Forbes Wines in Victoria, ACT and of Chief Operating Officer, overseeing all facets of production at Tasmania. At the same time Lisa and her husband began making the Hunter Valley winery and vineyard. In recent years Chris and their own wine under the label Fleet, based in South Gippsland. the rest of the Tyrrell’s winemaking team have focused heavily on In 2008 Lisa was selected by Sommeliers Australia to participate in improving, and in some cases reinventing their classic regional the inaugural Sommeliers Australia benchmark wine tasting course. styles and sing. To follow, in 2010 she undertook the Court of Master Sommeliers programme, becoming a certified sommelier and placing second in Victoria for her exam results. DAN SWINCER A Len Evans scholar in 2011 was her springboard into the Australian PANEL CHAIR judging circuit, with involvement in both National and Regional Chief winemaker for Pernod Ricard Winemakers Australia based in shows over the past six years. the Barossa Valley. Dan has judged at numerous capital city and Adding to these accomplishments Lisa is a mother of two beautiful regional wine shows as a panel chair, judge and associate judge. young girls, who are her inspiration to pursue the passion and follow This is his fifth year at the Melbourne wine show. the dreams! GLENN BARRY MELANIE CHESTER PANEL CHAIR PANEL CHAIR Glenn is Winemaker / Director at Tonic Wines; a small and unique Melanie is the Head Winemaker at Sutton Grange Winery in Central South Australian brand. He was previously the Winemaker for Victoria. Mel has completed studies in viticulture and oenology Knappstein Enterprise Winery for just short of a decade. He began at University of Adelaide, as well as extensive work experience his career in Clare at Jim Barry Wines and after stints in Italy, at wineries as diverse as d’Arenberg, Charles Melton and Quinta Canada and the USA, moved back to Australia, taking up a role do Crasto in Portugal’s Duoro Valley.