2014 RMWA Catalogue of Results
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2014 Catalogue of Results THE ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF VICTORIA WOULD LIKE TO THANK & ACKNOWLEDGE THE FOLLOWING SPONSORS: AWARDS PRESENTATION & EXHIBITOR TASTING PARTNER TROPHY SPONSORS KUB7149VehicleDecal500x150.indd 1 25/08/11 9:08 AM SPONSORS 2014 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 01/07/2014 Patron His Excellency The Hon. Alex Chernov ACQC Governor of Victoria Board of Directors S. C. Spargo (Chair) D. Pollet Hodgson (Deputy Chair) I. I. Bucknall D. S. Chapman M. Coleman A. J. Hawkes N.E. King OAM G. J. Phillips J. A. Potter P. J. B. Ronald OA President S. C. Spargo Chief Executive Officer M. O’Sullivan Company Secretary J. Perry Organising Committee P. Sexton (Chair) T. Carson (Chairman of Judges) D. Bicknell N. Stock A. Bradbury M. Harrop G. Poy S. Isherwood C. Crawford M. Skinner Competition Manager Michael Conolly Telephone: +61 3 9281 7461 Email: [email protected] CEO’s Message 4 Message from the Chair of Judges 5 2014 Judges Profiles 7 2014 Major Trophy Winners 11 2014 Trophy Winners 13 Report on Entries & Audits 15 Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy Past Winners 16 2014 Results 18 Best Sparkling 18 Best Riesling 21 Best Chardonnay 24 Best Semillon 31 Best Sauvignon Blanc or Blend of Semillon & Sauvignon Blanc 32 Best Other Single Varietal White 36 Best Other White Blend 38 Best Sweet White Wine 39 Best Rosé 40 Best Pinot Noir 41 Best Shiraz 44 Best Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot or Bordeaux Varietal Blend 56 Best Other Single Varietal Blend 66 Best Grenache or Red Rhone Varietal or Red Blend of Rhone Varietals 68 Best Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 70 Best Other Red Blend 72 Best Fortified 73 Victorian Wines of Provenance 74 Exhibitors List 76 3 CEO’s Message Message from Mr MARK O’SULLIVAN RASV CEO The Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria (RASV) is delighted to this year celebrate a significant milestone of the Royal Melbourne Wine Awards (RMWA) as the annual event celebrates its 130th anniversary. The event was established in 1884 to promote excellence in Australian wine and wine making practice, and the RASV is committed to safeguarding the esteemed reputation and highly valued benchmarking of these historical awards. The RMWA continue to grow in stature with the credibility of medals or trophies cemented, providing winners with differentiation in the market. The evolution of the awards to include new categories reflecting changes in the industry recognises the innovation and development of the Australian wine industry. This year we have added to the stable of awards the Kym Ludvigsen Trophy for Viticultural Excellence and the Victorian Trophy for Wines of Provenance. The Kym Ludvigsen Trophy for Viticultural Excellence was introduced to honour Kym’s 40 year industry dedication and influence, and recognises the role growers play in the production of the fine wines responsible for establishing, and continuing to advance the reputation of the Australian industry in the international market place. The Victorian Trophy for Wines of Provenance recognises long term excellence, awarded to a winemaker achieving consistent high quality across three vintages with the same label. With over 3183 wines entered for judging, assessing the wines is an enormous task and would not be possible without the dedication and commitment of the exhibitors and the panel of judges. This year we welcomed Tom Carson as the new Chair of Judges for the event, a much celebrated winemaker and previous RMWA exhibitor and judge, whose expertise and insight has been, and will continue to be, invaluable to the development of the awards. We thank Tom for his dedication to this role. The judging panel of 37 wine professionals and our three international guests Martin Moran MW (Ireland), Warren Gibson (NZ) and James Suckling (US), have dedicated their time and expertise to this event, for which the RASV is most grateful. We extend a sincere thanks to the RMWA Committee for their time and support and in particular acknowledge the Committee Chairman, Phil Sexton. The RASV is focused on providing opportunities for local producers to connect directly with consumers in mutually beneficial and relevant ways. The Uncorked winetasting event, held a week after the announcement of the RMWA winners on Friday 24 October at Collins Place, will allow for consumers to taste the trophy and medal-winning wines in a unique and personal experience. This event focuses on educating consumers on the value and importance of the awards and how they can assist with their purchasing decisions. We extend our appreciation to our event sponsors Portavin Integrated Wine Services, Fiig Securities, Dan Murphy’s, Exponet, Grays Online, Kubota, PSC Insurance, Rural Finance, RSN (Riedel), Hardie Grant Media and 3 Degrees. And to you, our exhibitors, we thank you for your consistent dedication to quality and excellence and for producing world-class wines, as we have seen in this year’s awards. We look forward to another wonderful year of exceptional production in 2015. Mark O’Sullivan Chief Executive Officer Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria 4 Message from the Chair of Judges Report on this year’s show by Mr TOM CARSON ROYAL MELBOURNE WINE AWARDS CHAIR OF JUDGES This year has marked another outstanding year for the Royal Melbourne Wine Awards (RMWA), with the calibre of entries making the judge’s deliberation an exceptionally difficult task. Taking on the role of Chair of Judges, I have been aware of the level of competition in this show, the best and most progressive in Australia, but have once again welcomed the increased standard of local wines to this event. On behalf of the RMWA team including committee and judging panel, I congratulate all medal and trophy winners on your achievements and look forward to seeing how these results contribute to your future successes. I also congratulate and thank all those who entered this year’s awards, as without your support and participation this program would not be the premier wine event that it is. I would like to take a moment to thank my fellow judges for their level of commitment to the process ensuring the credibility and validity of these awards to recipients. Their diverse expertise and employed values ensures a level of consistency and benchmarking that is second to none. I would like to make particular mention of our international guest judges, Martin Moran (Ireland) and Warren Gibson(NZ), and the return of James Suckling (US). The introduction of the Victorian Trophy for Wines of Provenance and the Kym Ludvigsen Trophy for Viticultural Excellence, have set yet another standard of excellence for those in the industry to strive for. With the Ludvigsen we acknowledge that the wine is only as good as the grapes it is produced from! This year, the quality of the wines showcases the diversity of the Australian wine landscape. The results matched this diversity with trophies scattered across the country. The exceptional quality of the 2012/2013 vintages this year certainly made it a joy to judge. I would like to acknowledge the hard work of the front and back of house team including Head Steward Marika Gorissen, stewards Kate Sturgess & Stephanie Jacob and the RASV Epicure team including Mike Conolly, Ann Houlihan, Elissa Barlow and Dani Tsaples whose commitment to this program has been exceptional. I look forward to the continual strive for excellence within our industry and to another year of outstanding wines. Mr Tom Carson 5 2014 Judges Profiles TOM CARSON JEN PFEIFFER CHAIR OF JUDGES PANEL CHAIR Tom is the Chief Winemaker and General Manager of Yabby Lake, Jen Pfeiffer is the winemaker at Pfeiffer Wines, a family owned based on the Mornington Peninsula. Awarded the prestigious and operated winery, located in historic Rutherglen. She is a 2004 IWSC International Winemaker of the Year as well as 2002 passionate fortified wine producer and consumer, and in 2009 Dux of the Len Evans Tutorial, it comes as no surprise that Tom’s was awarded the Wine Society Young Winemaker of the Year judging experience includes; Chairman of the National Wine Award, Sommeliers Choice. Jen has just returned from vintage in Show, as well as Panel Chair of the Royal Sydney, Adelaide and the Douro Valley, Portugal, where she has been making both port Victorian Wine Shows. and red table wines. She has judged at numerous wine shows across Australia. PANEL CHAIRS DAN BUCKLE PHILIP RICH PANEL CHAIR PANEL CHAIR Senior Winemaker at Chandon, based in the Yarra Valley, Based in Melbourne, Philip, a partner in Prince Wine Store and Dan has used his years of experience and dedication to Bellota Wine Bar, has written a monthly wine column for the viticulture to live up to his self-title of ‘meticulous’. It is his Australian Financial Review Magazine since 2000. Currently approach to wine making that has seen him become one of Chairman of the Margaret River Wine Show, Philip will also chair Australia’s most prominent winemakers. Looked towards for the inaugural Mornington Peninsula Wine Show later this year. his heritage and knowledge, Dan has judged many Wine Shows across Australia and was more notably the winner of the 2012 Vin de Champagne Awards. NICK STOCK PANEL CHAIR Nick Stock is one of Australia’s most prolific wine commentators CHRIS CRAWFORD and a best-selling author who is widely published across major PANEL CHAIR print media. He is active in radio and television broadcasting, Currently the General Manager of Beverage at Crown Melbourne, digital media production, wine show judging, public speaking Chris’ extensive background exceeding 24 years has proven and education.