2019 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 PARTNERS MAJOR SPONSOR TROPHY SPONSOR 2019 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 www.rasv.com.au List of Office Bearers As at 27/08/2019 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 P (Peter) Hertan NE (Noelene) King OAM R (Robert) Millar PJB (Jason) Ronald OAM Chief Executive Officer P. Guerra Company Secretary O. Carton Organising Committee Angie Bradbury (Chair) Matt Harrop (Chair of Judges) Tom Carson Samantha Isherwood Melanie Chester Mark O'Callaghan Event Manager, Beverage Kirsten Stubbings Email: [email protected] Contents CEO’S MESSAGE ...............................................................................................................................6 CHAIR OF JUDGES’ REPORT............................................................................................................7 JUDGES’ BIOGRAPHIES ....................................................................................................................8 MAJOR TROPHIES ............................................................................................................................15 CONSISTENCY OF EXCELLENCE MEDAL ......................................................................................21 2019 REPORT ON ENTRIES .............................................................................................................23 PAST JIMMY WATSON MEMORIAL TROPHY WINNERS ................................................................24 2019 RESULTS...................................................................................................................................26 BEST SPARKLING .............................................................................................................................26 BEST RIESLING .................................................................................................................................28 BEST CHARDONNAY ....................................................................................................................... 33 BEST SEMILLON ............................................................................................................................... 43 BEST SAUVIGNON BLANC .............................................................................................................. 44 BEST PINOT GRIS / GRIGIO ............................................................................................................ 47 BEST SINGLE VARIETAL WHITE ..................................................................................................... 49 BEST WHITE BLEND ........................................................................................................................ 51 BEST SWEET WHITE WINE ............................................................................................................. 53 BEST ROSÉ ....................................................................................................................................... 54 BEST PINOT NOIR............................................................................................................................ 57 BEST SHIRAZ .................................................................................................................................... 62 BEST CABERNET SAUVIGNON, MERLOT AND ASSOCIATED VARIETIES.................................. 79 BEST GRENACHE............................................................................................................................. 94 BEST SINGLE VARIETAL RED ......................................................................................................... 96 BEST SHIRAZ/CABERNET SAUVIGNON BLEND ............................................................................ 99 BEST RED BLEND ............................................................................................................................101 BEST FORTIFIED ..............................................................................................................................105 VICTORIAN WINES OF PROVENANCE ...........................................................................................106 EXHIBITOR LIST ...............................................................................................................................107 Royal Melbourne 5 Wine Awards CEO’s Message PAUL GUERRA RASV CEO Congratulations to all 2019 Royal Melbourne Wine Awards (RMWA) medal winners! Winning a medal in Australia’s most respected wine show is wonderful recognition for you and your winery and provides you with a valuable platform to increase sales, greater export opportunities and significant growth. For more than 135 years the Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria (RASV) has conducted these prestigious awards and over time they have evolved to meet changing industry expectations regarding wine style, winemaking techniques and consumer interests. The evolution continued this year with an exciting new change to provide greater recognition to Australia’s most widely planted variety, Shiraz. With Shiraz contributing almost 25% of overall entries, we introduced trophies for the Best Shiraz in each State and Territory. This exciting change is a natural progression from the existing process of judging wines by region, celebrating Australian Shiraz and its diversity. More than 3050 wines were entered this year from over 510 wineries with 29 trophies awarded, including Australia’s best known individual wine award, the Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy. To celebrate the Jimmy Watson and elevate consumer awareness, we are holding the inaugural Jimmy Watson Trophy Lunch. With a focus on providing an outstanding consumer experience, the event includes exclusive access to the first public release of the Royal Melbourne Wine Awards trophy winning wines. One of the important benchmarks of the RMWA reputation and reasons behind the high level of participation is the quality of judges that assess each entry and award these coveted trophies. Matt Harrop from Curly Flat Wines, Victoria, completed his second year as the Chair of Judges. We greatly appreciate and value his expertise in overseeing the judging along with the 36 wine professionals who have dedicated their time and expertise to judge this year. We are also most grateful of the Royal Melbourne Wine Awards Committee for their time and support in particular the Committee Chair, Angie Bradbury in making sure the RMWA continue to grow in stature. The awards would not be possible without the generous contributions of our event sponsors and we thank Portavin Integrated Wine Services, Plumm, O-I Glass, Labelhouse, Kubota and Seabrook Family Wines. Finally, to you our exhibitors, we greatly appreciate and value your support of the Awards and we look forward to another successful year of Australian wine production in 2020. Paul Guerra Chief Executive Officer Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria Royal Melbourne 6 Wine Awards Chair of Judges’ Report MR MATT HARROP RMWA CHAIR OF JUDGES Another Royal Melbourne Wine Awards has been completed. Over four days, 21 judges and 15 associates tasted in excess of 3050 wines. As Chair of Judges, I was in the privileged position of overseeing a wonderful week of tasting and present to you, the exhibitors, the results. The RMWA has grown over the last few years to be the largest wine show in Australia. The RMWA 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 Sue Pettit. A huge thank you to the RASV team who made the show such a success led by Michael Katoa and Kirsten Stubbings. To all exhibitors, thank you for entering. Congratulations on your trophy and medal wins, the caliber of competition was incredibly high. For the first time the RMWA has awarded a trophy to the best Shiraz from each state. These state winning wines were tasted against each other to find the winner of the Trevor Mast Trophy for Best Shiraz in show. The Jimmy Watson Trophy taste off was the closest in many years, with the winning wine just one point ahead of the second placed wine. I’m thrilled for Bleasdale, who have a proud wine-growing heritage dating back to 1850. The results of this year’s RMWA reflect the dedication, hard work and expertise of winegrowers across this great country. I am delighted