WINESTATE Wine of the Year Awards 2022

Special Awards Feature 2022 Featuring the winners and placegetters for each varietal category tasted throughout the year. Plus profiles of the Australian and New Zealand winemaker and wine company of the year. Wine of the Year Awards Annual Edition 2023 W I N E S TAT E 47

W I N E S TAT E - W I N E O F T H E Y E A R AWA R D S 2 0 2 2 THE JUDGING BEST OF THE BEST EACH year Winestate gathers together those to have a lock on pinot noir, and sweet white is wines that throughout the year have achieved a usually a toss-up. five star (gold standard) or four-and-a-half star (high silver standard) to come up with a Top 5 For perennial Australian winners fortifieds are list across seventeen categories and ultimately hard to beat, as are semillons that are uniquely a winner for each category. Australian in style. Shiraz is to Australia what sauvignon blanc is to New Zealand, along with Then all category winners were put together to warm climate grenache, rieslings from Clare decide a standout wine, no mean feat as they all and other cool climate regions, alternative white represent different varietals and different styles. varieties tend to be mainly at home in Australia But as they say, “someone has to do it,” and our and finally rosé. expert judges always do a great job. Our congratulations go to all the Top Five This year led by established senior wine show Category wineries – an amazing achievement judge and regular Winestate judge, Chairman from a huge array of quality wines judged of Judges, Stephen John, formerly Chief throughout 2022 - and our thanks to all the Winemaker of The Wine Group. We were also judges throughout the year who gave of their pleased to have three-time Winestate Winemaker time to bring you this hard-earned result. And of the Year award winner (2012, 2018 & 2020), of course, to the sponsors who make all this Shane Harris, Chief Winemaker for Wines possible by supporting this major judging event. by Geoff Hardy along with fellow Winestate We urge you to take note of them and also to Winemaker of the Year (2013), Eric Semmler, look through the list of wines we recommend to Co-Owner and Chief Winemaker of 919 Wines. decide which wines cater to your palate and then to seek them out quickly as they rapidly sell out! In this Trans-Tasman taste off the competition is fierce with around a quarter of Category Winners It has been our great pleasure to bring this going to New Zealand wineries and the others to to you and we look forward to doing it again in Australian wineries. This year was no exception 2023. As I mentioned in my editorial in these with Kiwi winners in five categories namely, turbulent times it is important to support our local sauvignon blanc, chardonnay, merlot, pinot noir regions at the same time as we enjoy the great and sweet white. To lose the sauvignon blanc products that they give us. category would be akin to the All Blacks losing, which is rare if unheard of. Chardonnay tends to Cheers! float between countries but when the Kiwi sugar level is reduced to balance acidity it tends to Peter Simic stay in New Zealand. Merlot similarly goes back Editor/Publisher and forth between the two and this year saw NZ sweep the pool in this category. Central Otago with its cool climate but high sunshine seems *All technical details for the Wine of the Year Special Feature are supplied directly from each winery. 48 W I N E S TAT E Wine of the Year Awards Annual Edition 2023

CHAIRMAN’S THE CLASSES COMMENTS IN BRIEF JUDGES Stephen John Shane Harris Eric Semmler Chairman SPARKLING ROSÉ SWEET WHITE The top wines were outstanding – world class in A very even class of excellent commercial styles. A complete mixed bag of varieties and styles, fact! Freshness, elegance, yet complexity were The top wine edged ahead due to its elegance, as expected. A couple of standout wines here the features. freshness and balance. which were hard to separate. ALTERNATIVE WHITE ALTERNATIVE RED FORTIFIED There were 43 examples across 15 varieties and the An exciting class to judge. These were very A very diverse class from dry Apera flor wines judges were not disappointed. All were excellent well made wines displaying their own varietal to sweet luscious muscat and topaque beauties. examples of their varieties; well-rounded and personalities. The top wine, a montepulciano, There were outstanding wines in each sector. showing an understanding by their winemakers. was simply outstanding. The top wine of class was applauded for quality and persistence, in a decreasing market today. RIESLING PINOT NOIR A beautiful class to judge. Here we had an An exceptional lineup of varying styles – from BEST VALUE BUY excellent lineup of rieslings generally from light and elegant to big and rich. However, This award always gets a lot of interest. Here we the classic Australian growing regions for this balance was a feature despite the style. The top have the combination of quality as in star rating variety. Here we saw purity of fruit, and balanced wine displayed true varietal fruit, silky tannins awarded and the retail price quoted. This year fine line acidity, which was a feature. and a long flavour aftertaste. the winner was the Duxton Rewild Sustainably Made Murray Darling Shiraz Rosé 2022. It was SAUVIGNON BLANC MERLOT great to see a rosé win this award and Duxton, The class was dominated by the classic New A very small but sound class of nice commercial as a winery offering great value wines, is a Zealand style. This is simply outstanding and styles made with the consumer in mind. worthy winner. recognized worldwide. The top wine displayed intense varietal notes and purity of fruit. GRENACHE • Amorim Cork • Interpack Wow! Excellent class. The top wine was bright, • Luigi Bormioli • Henson Lloyd PINOT GRIS/GRIGIO modern and complete. It had freshness of flavour • Le Cordon Bleu • Northline Freight Here we saw varying styles from this consumer with balanced tannins and alcohol a feature. • DAI Print • Orora Glass friendly variety. Some texture and balanced • Kewco • Wineworks sugar is advantageous with this variety and the CABERNET SAUVIGNON • William Angliss • Winetitles Media winners showed this rather than being too sweet A very big class with the top wines showing • Classic Oak • DW Fox Tucker or phenolic. freshness, balanced oak complexity and • National Wine Centre • Travelrite structure. There were many outstanding wines • SMEG SEMILLON with Coonawarra standing tall. An outstanding class. The top wines were classic examples of Australian semillon. Superb aged SHIRAZ wines! Once again a huge class of predominantly Australian shiraz with a handful of New Zealand CHARDONNAY Syrah. Those awarded were narrowed down In this class it was encouraging to see the lack of to the Top 10 on the day from each flight then oak dominance and more respect for the varietal rejudged to deliver a final Top 5. Brightness of fruit involved. The top wines showed restraint, fruit, complexity and balance of new oak was a although were still complex and fresh. feature of the top wines. Wine of the Year Awards Annual Edition 2023 W I N E S TAT E 49

AUSTRALIAN & Overall Wine of the Year 50 W I N E S TAT E W ine of the Year Awards Annual Edition 2023

AUSTRALIAN WINE OF THE YEAR Scarpantoni Estate McLaren Vale Montepulciano 2021 NIGEL HOPKINS WHEN people consider the wines of McLaren Vale’s Scarpantoni Estate, But experimenting with new varieties is not for the faint-hearted winemaker. it’s most likely they’d be thinking shiraz or cabernet sauvignon. “Some of the new varieties now becoming fashionable, we gave up on most of them,” Michael says, specifically mentioning the Spanish variety These were the varieties planted by patriarch Domenico Scarpantoni carignan and the aforementioned tarrango (“a potentially great variety that after his arrival in Australia in 1952. After working for Thomas Hardy at unfortunately doesn’t work in McLaren Vale”). its Tintara winery, and then as vineyard manager for Seaview Wines, he purchased his first 20ha block in McLaren Vale in 1958. In 1968 he “We grew pinot noir in the ’80s and pulled it all out, we had terrible clones. bought a second 20ha block in McLaren Flat on the site of one of the But we tried again 10 years ago because we like a challenge, hoping to first schools in South Australia (hence it being called the School Block). make a good pinot for $25, with the right clones and the right soil. When the weather is perfect, cooler and wetter, we can make a pretty decent pinot.” It was here in 1979 that the Scarpantoni family built their own winery and established their own label. Now controlled by brothers Michael In the past five years Scarpantoni Estate has seen plantings and trial Scarpantoni, who runs the winery, and Filipo who manages the vineyards, wines of barbera, nero d’avola, durif and, of course, around 1.5ha of Scarpantoni Estate produces around 40,000 dozen cases each year montepulciano. – led by wines such as its School Block red blend of shiraz, cabernet sauvignon and merlot, or its School Block White blend of sauvignon “These plantings have nothing to do with trends here in Australia,” Michael blanc, semillon and chenin blanc. adds. “They’re all the result of our trips back to Italy, where we still have a lot of family. After our last trip to Sicily we planted nero d’avola. We’d The fact that its Block 3 shiraz, considered a benchmark style for the already fallen in love with barbera – and of course montepulciano is where region, has won both the Great Australian Shiraz Challenge and was Dad came from.” once Winestate’s Shiraz of the Year only further cemented Scarpantoni Estate’s reputation for its shiraz wines. Just as winning a Jimmy Watson Until a decade ago there were virtually no plantings of montepulciano in Trophy in 2007 for its 2006 Brothers Block Cabernet Sauvignon did much Australia. Sangiovese, nebbiolo and barbera were the Italian red wine varieties the same for that variety. attracting the most attention from growers and winemakers, but montepluciano is quickly emerging as a very suitable variety for warmer Australian areas and So, it may surprise some that the Scarpantoni Estate wine that has been is gaining recognition at regional and specialist wine shows. named 2022 Winestate’s Wine of the Year is neither of these varieties – it is their 2021 Montepulciano, a variety that is fast gaining interest as an “Montepulciano cuttings weren’t available until quite recently,” Michael says, Italian variety that adapts well to climate change and seems to really “and those that we obtained five years ago were planted under licence.” enjoy being grown in Australia, especially McLaren Vale. The fact that Scarpantoni Estate has had only two vintages of its Although still not widely planted here – one survey estimated about montepulciano so far - “both of them good” - sends all the right signals it’s 90 growers in Australia so far – it has been a natural choice for the a variety that’s at home in McLaren Vale. Added to that, Michael says, was Scarpantoni brothers in their quest to continue to push the boundaries. that 2021 was a year that ‘ticked all the right boxes’. And although widely grown in Italy, probably the most planted variety “We were very conscious not to let oak dominate the wine and we wanted after sangiovese, montepulciano is reckoned to be at its best in the to get it into the bottle at exactly the right time. A bit of luck, a bit of intuition, mountainous Abruzzi region which is where Domenico Scarpantoni grew not a lot of experience. We know how to get the best out of our vines, now up and was probably the first wine he tasted. So, there’s a lot of family the trick is to make the best wine. love and loyalty behind this wine. “It’s still too early to tell what the future will hold,” he cautions. “You need “We’ve always been highly experimental,” says Michael Scarpantoni. at least 10 vintages to get some idea and it can take 20 years to really work “Back in the ’80s we tried planting gamay and tarrango, the variety it out with new varieties. But I think it will sit squarely next to shiraz as a developed by the CSIRO. You name it and we’ve tried it over the past variety for this region, especially as a blend.” 40 years. We still grow some gamay that we first planted in 1984, initially to make rosé but in good years we now make a dry red wine, a lighter, fruit-driven style similar to pinot noir.” Wine of the Year Awards Annual Edition 2023 W I N E S TAT E 51

NEW ZEALAND Wine of the Year 52 W I N E S TAT E W ine of the Year Awards Annual Edition 2023

NEW ZEALAND WINE OF THE YEAR Church Road 1 Single Vineyard Terraces Hawke's Bay Chardonnay 2021 MICHAEL COOPER HAWKE'S BAY is widely viewed as New Zealand’s leading, long-established Do their chardonnays taste different? “Both sites produce wines with chardonnay region, so it’s hardly a surprise that the region’s chardonnays a slate-like mineral feel,” Church Road reports, “but at Terraces, we are often shine in ‘Winestate’ tastings. But what is truly astounding is the extent sheltered from the cold southerly by Te Mata Peak. This gives the wines to which Church Road winery, owned by Pernod Ricard NZ, has recently a richer, rounder, more textural structure, and a tendency towards peach- topped our Wine of the Year tastings. like, stonefruit flavours over zestier, citrusy notes.” Last year, Church Road Grand Reserve Hawke's Bay Chardonnay 2019 Based entirely on a single block of clone 548 chardonnay, the wine was not only our New Zealand Wine of the Year; it headed off all Australian reflects a warm, dry growing season. The vines were extensively shoot entrants to win our coveted trophy for the overall champion Wine of the and fruit-thinned, with 70% leaf removal through the fruit zone, to ensure Year. Now, the winery has earned further acclaim, scooping our New a balanced, evenly spaced, well-exposed crop. By mid February, despite Zealand Wine of the Year award for 2022 with Church Road 1 Single relatively modest sugar levels, the fruit was tasting ripe, so, “we made the Vineyard Terraces Hawke's Bay Chardonnay 2021. call to begin our earliest-ever chardonnay harvest, to ensure we preserved good freshness and acidity.” I first tasted the wine in August 2022. I jotted down: ‘Bright, light yellow/ green, with a fragrant, smoky bouquet, it is mouthfilling and vigorous, with Made by Chris Scott and Craig Thomas, the winning wine was hand- concentrated, peachy, citrusy flavours, seasoned with toasty oak, fresh picked, fermented in French oak barriques (30% new), and barrel-aged acidity and a tightly structured, long finish. Best drinking mid-2024+.’ for 11 months on its full yeast lees, with occasional lees-stirring. A barrel selection, it was bottled unfined and filtered lightly for clarity. Positioned below its icon Tom range (NZ$150-$220), but above the Grand Reserve selection (NZ$35-$45), the Church Road 1 range (NZ$100-$120) So how do the Church Road winemakers view their champion trophy is promoted as, “a story of provenance... [It’s] our single vineyard offering, winner? They describe it as “a full-bodied, powerful chardonnay that still showcasing the unique character of our very best vineyards from the best manages to retain good balance and liveliness. This complex wine is built sub-regions of Hawke's Bay, including the famed Redstone, Tuki Tuki around a core of ripe peach fruit, lifted by fresher citrus elements, and and Gimblett Gravels sites. Our winemakers take a back seat and allow layered with complexities of roasted hazelnut, toasted brioche and struck the land to stamp its mark on the wine, so it reveals a true expression of flint. The palate is rich, yet finely textured, with exceptional textural length place in every glass...”. and balanced, fresh acidity, finishing with a slate-like minerality.” They expect the wine to mature gracefully for six years or more from vintage date. For Chris Scott, chief winemaker at Church Road, the Church Road 1 range is all about terroir, which he views as, “a French word with no The Church Road 1 Single Vineyard range also features a quartet of direct English translation. It can be described as the taste of the place. classy, flavour-packed reds – a notably refined, dense Gimblett Gravels The same grape variety grown in different sites, even in the same region, Cabernet Sauvignon 2020; a fragrant, rich Gimblett Gravels Malbec will demonstrate uniquely different characteristics, related to those 2020 (which avoids the rusticity often seen in New Zealand malbecs); individual sites. Differences in soil, slope, altitude and shelter can subtly or a sturdy, lush Gimblett Gravels Merlot 2020; and a dark, youthful, highly dramatically alter the resulting wine, even over distances of a few metres. concentrated Redstone Syrah 2020, grown in the Bridge Pa Triangle. The very best sites, growing well-suited varieties, will produce wines that stand out among their peers – wines of recognisable personality, presence and, above all, quality.” The Terraces Vineyard, managed by viticulturists Graham Bartleet and Claire Pinker, lies on an old river terrace on the western side of the Tuki Tuki River, about 8 kilometres inland from the sea. The soils are shallow clay loams, overlying a calcareous clay pan, with river gravels beneath. Only recently planted in chardonnay, but revealing great promise, the site has very similar soils to the company’s proven, top-performing Tuki Tuki Vineyard, on the other side of the river. Wine of the Year Awards Annual Edition 2023 W I N E S TAT E 53

NEW ZEALAND wine company of the year PERNOD RICARD WINEMAKERS NZ MICHAEL COOPER Jamie Marfell is chief winemaker at Stoneleigh. After growing up in a Marlborough sheep-farming family, he graduated with a BSc and joined OWNER of such famous brands as Brancott Estate, Stoneleigh and Church Montana in the early 1990s as a trainee winemaker. Sauvignon blanc then Road, Pernod Ricard NZ is one of the giants of the New Zealand wine struck winemakers as, ‘a green acid bomb that rivalled only semillon in industry. Headquartered in Auckland, it employs about 500 people in pungent vegetal characters, and was second only to chenin blanc, when production and marketing. “Our winemaking teams are able to leverage the comparing monstrous acidities... We were able to ripen our A-grade expertise of colleagues across the globe, as well as their own experience sauvignon blanc to an optimal 18 brix (equivalent to about 10% alcohol by as the founders of the Marlborough wine region, to craft medal-winning volume). It was all about chaptalisation (adding sugar during fermentation wines that are exported to more than 50 countries.” to boost the wine’s alcohol) and deacidification...’. Part of the empire of Paris-based Pernod Ricard SA, the world’s second Today, Stoneleigh is known for its far riper, tropical fruit-flavoured sauvignon biggest wine and spirit company, the New Zealand company was known blancs. Marfell recommends drinking them with, “anything out of the sea – as Montana until 2004, then for two years as Allied Domecq Wines NZ. anything that swims, hangs on to rocks, or hides in crevices...”. Launched in 1979, Montana Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc had during the 1980s and 1990s introduced more overseas wine lovers to the delights of Making money has not proved easy. In 2018, Pernod Ricard NZ’s holding New Zealand wine than any other. company, Millstream Equities, reported a loss of NZ$182.4 million. In 2019, it posted an annual net profit after tax of NZ$18 million, but the 2020 financial By acquiring its largest competitor, Corbans, in 2000, for NZ$151 million, year brought another loss of NZ$10.25 million. The latest news is good - in Montana boosted its output of New Zealand wine by 70 per cent. Inevitably, 2021, the company posted a profit of NZ$17.6 million. its international success attracted the interest of foreign buyers, and today this huge wine producer is in French hands. Sustainability has emerged as a key part of the team’s focus. “This includes extensive native tree plantings in and around our vineyards,” and the Kaituna In 2010, Pernod Ricard NZ decided to streamline its portfolio and focus Wetland restoration, a haven for native birds, insects and aquatic species. on three major brands – Brancott Estate (formerly Montana), Stoneleigh and “Through the Brancott Estate brand, we have sponsored Marlborough Falcon Church Road. The Montana brand was retained for the New Zealand market Trust since 2010, contributing more than half a million dollars and access to (and today the sub-$NZ10 Montana Sauvignon Blanc is an Australian wine, our land for their rehabilitation and breeding aviary.” because Aussies can grow the grapes cheaper). However, the brand name Montana proved a stumbling block in the US, for obvious geographic In late 2021, Laura-Kate Morgan became the first female to be awarded the reasons, and was replaced in 2010 by Brancott Estate (named after one title of winemaker at Brancott Estate. “Twenty years ago, there were fewer of the southern side valleys of Marlborough’s sweeping Wairau Valley). women in winemaking,” she observes, “as it was seen as manual, hands-on work for men.” Today, “the industry is getting smarter and smarter, in terms Today, the BRANCOTT ESTATE label shows the second ‘A’ upside-down, of its use of technology and precision of winemaking processes”. with a sheep that is also upside-down. ‘With a bit of flipped Kiwi thinking, where others only saw sheep, Brancott Estate saw an opportunity - and If she could work with just one grape variety, what would it be? “Chardonnay. in doing so, founded the Marlborough wine region.’ It has beautiful aromatics of citrus and stone fruit, with a stunning minerality that showcases the depth of the Marlborough region.” So how did Pernod Ricard NZ win Winestate’s New Zealand Wine Company of the Year award? With an amazing total of 35 wines achieving FINALISTS Te Kano Estate 4.5 stars or higher throughout 2022. Church Road was the star performer, Te Pa Family Vineyards Ltd NZ with a formidable total of 19 5-star awards and 10 4.5-star ratings. Eight Askerne Vineyard NZ of the five-star awards were for ‘Bordeaux-style’ red wines (cabernet Saint Clair Family Estate Vineyards NZ sauvignon, merlot, malbec and blends), plus five for syrah, three for chardonnay, two for sauvignon blanc and one for dessert wine. The Stoneleigh brand, launched in the mid-late 1980s, is also famous for Marlborough sauvignon blanc. At last count, there were six versions on the market. The very large-volume Stoneleigh Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc flows from the stony, relatively warm Rapaura area, on the north side of the Wairau Valley, which produces a ripely flavoured style of sauvignon blanc, yet retains good acidity and vigour. Other bottlings include Stoneleigh Latitude Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, designed as a ‘full-on style’ with ‘big aromatics’; Stoneleigh Lighter Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, ‘25 per cent lighter in alcohol’; Stoneleigh Organic Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc; Stoneleigh Wild Valley Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, fermented with indigenous rather than cultured yeasts; and Stoneleigh Rapaura Series Single Vineyard Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, labelled as ‘the absolute best of Stoneleigh’. 54 W I N E S TAT E W ine of the Year Awards Annual Edition 2023

NEW ZEALAND winemaker of the year CHRIS SCOTT, Church Road MICHAEL COOPER texture actually make the wines less fruity and more aromatically interesting, which to me is a real positive, but it’s not everyone’s focus.” CHRIS Scott must be a highly familiar face to many Winestate readers, having scooped our New Zealand Winemaker of the Year award an amazing five times Scott is a big fan of chardonnay: “I’d drink a lot of white Burgundy if I could afford – initially in 2013 and 2016, and now for the last three years in a row - 2020, it.” For his hugely popular Church Road Hawke's Bay Chardonnay, he unashamedly 2021 and 2022 – a perfect hat-trick! goes for “a reasonably obvious, barrel-fermented style – peachy and creamy, with toasty, spicy oak. Some people switched to sauvignon blanc to avoid oak, As chief winemaker at Church Road, this year Scott accumulated a but when many of the chardonnays then changed to a less oak-influenced style, phenomenal total of 19 five-star ratings, backed up by 10 four-and-a-half-star other consumers left too.” awards. To put this in perspective, the second best-performing New Zealand winery had 10 wines with 4.5-star ratings or above. Cabernet sauvignon, first planted widely in Hawke's Bay several decades ago, is now attracting renewed interest, says Scott. “As warmer, lower vigour soils have He blew his competitors out of the water, with wines including the Church Road been explored and planted, and viticultural techniques improved, the quality of 1 Single Vineyard Terraces Hawke's Bay Chardonnay 2021 – our overall New cabernet sauvignon in our region has improved dramatically.” Zealand Wine of the Year and Chardonnay Of The Year. He also took out the Merlot Of The Year with the Church Road 1 Single Vineyard Gimblett Gravels Hawke’s Bay In recent years, Church Road has sourced more and more of its cabernet Merlot 2020, where the only merlots to make the grade were all from the Church sauvignon grapes from the south-western Heretaunga Plains, especially the Road brand made under his guidance. As if that wasn’t enough, he also scored Gimblett Gravels and Bridge Pa Triangle sub-regions. “The warm meso-climates a top 5 nomination for his sweet wine, the Church Road Grand Reserve Hawke’s and light, stony soils give low crops of concentrated, fully ripe fruit that produce Bay Noble Pinot Gris 2021. Keep in mind that all of these wines were tasted blind classically structured wines with power, elegance, fragrance and finesse.” at different times by different judges making it a truly herculean effort! Merlot, now planted far more extensively in Hawke's Bay than cabernet sauvignon, Head of the winemaking team at the historic Church Road winery, in Hawke's Bay “is a fickle grape,” observes Scott, “performing in a narrow climate band. It likes (owned by Pernod Ricard NZ) for 17 years, Scott produces a multi-tier selection that neither too much heat nor excessively cool climates, and is prone to over-cropping.” includes a consistently satisfying chardonnay and merlot cabernet sauvignon in the Because it ripens mid-season, growers can be lulled into a false sense of security, $NZ20 range, which both offer irresistible value. At the summit of the portfolio stand “but unless its vigour and crop load are tightly controlled, the wine will not achieve an ‘icon’ chardonnay ($NZ150), syrah ($NZ220) and merlot cabernet ($NZ220) the textural warmth, density and generosity of great merlot.” under the illustrious Tom label, named in honour of Tom McDonald, who dominated the Hawke's Bay wine scene during the 1960s and 1970s. Scott loves blending merlot and cabernet sauvignon. While the merlot contributes “plush, mid-palate texture,” cabernet sauvignon brings “complex aromatics, and Scott admires the classic, cool-climate wine styles of the Old World. a framework that reins the merlot in, keeping the blend serious and structured”. “Bordeaux reds, syrahs and fuller-bodied chardonnays. Really complex, dense wines that age well. You can benchmark Hawke's Bay wines with the best in Syrah is the hot, relatively new red-wine variety for Hawke's Bay. Scott the world in those varieties.” believes great Hawke's Bay syrah is “supple and textural, built on a core of dark, luxurious fruit, but never becomes too heavy or loses the floral and spice So, what’s so special about Hawke's Bay, that enables Scott to produce such perfume that sets it apart.” classy wines under the Church Road brand? He believes it’s the region’s climate and soils. “The relatively cool, European-style climate produces much more Since the inception of the awards, Chris Scott is Winestate Magazine’s classically proportioned wines, which retain more of the freshness and flavour of most awarded overall Winemaker of the Year. Church Road wines have been the grape. In warmer climates like California or Australia, the varietal characters available in Australia since 2011. can get a bit blurred and the wines can become a bit porty and heavy and jammy.” FINALISTS Hawke's Bay’s lowest-fertility, stony, free-draining soils, inland from the city of Hastings, are a key influence. “Grape vines are basically weeds. You have to treat A. B. C. them mean and keep them thirsty, to force them to switch from a vegetative cycle to a reproductive cycle.” A. Cairn Coghill, Askerne B. Michael Wood, Obsidian Another critical advantage enjoyed by Hawke's Bay is its sheer diversity of sub- C. Dave Sutton, Te Kano regional climates and soils. “When I got to Hawke's Bay in 1995,” Scott recalls, D. Sam Bennett, Te Pa “every vineyard was a fruit salad of varieties. Now you see a lot more specialisation. The hot, stony soils of the Bridge Pa Triangle and Gimblett Gravels are dominated D. by red varieties. The Tuki Tuki Valley, which gets the cool sea breeze during the afternoon, grows good chardonnay, and the high country spots further inland, where it gets colder at night, are great for sauvignon blanc and pinot gris.” If you ask Scott what he sees as the most important attribute of a wine, he stresses texture, ahead of flavour and aroma. “The primary focus of everything we do at Church Road is around ‘mouthfeel’, getting a nice fullness, roundness and plushness. A lot of the things you do to enhance Wine of the Year Awards Annual Edition 2023 W I N E S TAT E 55

AUSTRALIAN wine company of the year AUSTRALIAN VINTAGE LIMITED NIGEL HOPKINS WHEN Australian Vintage was last year anointed Winestate Magazine’s Wine Perhaps even more significantly for a listed company, AVL reported a Company of the Year, CEO Craig Garvin was quoted as saying: seven per cent lift in underlying profit for a year beset by considerable global challenges (Brexit and the pandemic in particular). While environmental “We’ve had excellent wines and excellent winemakers and great capability, sustainability is a major focus of the company, with a target to achieve net but now we’ve pulled them out from under the shadow of McGuigan and let zero emissions by 2040, financial sustainability is equally essential and the them show off what they do in all our brands. company’s balance sheet demonstrates that Garvin and his board have that under control. “I haven’t changed the winemaking strategy except to say we need to be a points-driven wine company and our top wines to have that credibility.” “What we’ve done is not rocket science,” Garvin says. “It’s common sense. We’ve now got a much more balanced scorecard approach. Which begged the question: could that mean even more five-star wines and yet another crowning as Wine Company of the Year? “Whilst COVID-19 appears to have had an overall positive impact on our business, a significant portion of the growth has come from long-term At the risk of it sounding as though Australian Vintage now, at least for the sustainable strategies such as innovation, people capability, improved moment, owns this category, it did. consumer trading technology and improved production efficiencies.” For the fifth time, the first in 2003 and now four years in a row, Australian Critically, he says, AVL is now pushing a pillar brand strategy for its four Vintage has taken top honours with an extraordinary 34 awards above 4.5 stars key brands – Nepenthe, McGuigan Wines, Barossa Valley Wine Company across multiple brands and judged by multiple panels in Winestate judging’s and Tempus Two. throughout the year – 15 of them contributed alone by Tempus Two, whose winemaker Andrew Duff is also our Winemaker of the Year. “A few years ago, it was all about McGuigan Wines,” Garvin says. “But if you look at our company now, we’re pushing those four pillar brands really The first win was in 2003 when the company was McGuigan Wines. It was hard. Three of four years ago those brands accounted for 50 per cent of our a period of expansion with McGuigan merging with Simeon Wines to create overall volume – that’s now heading towards 80 per cent. Australia’s fourth largest wine group, quickly followed by the acquisition of Miranda Wines and Nepenthe Wines, and by 2008 its renaming as Australian “My approach has been to take what were really good assets and really good Vintage Ltd (AVL). Considerable international acclaim followed and in 2012 winemaking skills and drive them towards a more consumer-led pillar brand and 2016 Australian Vintage was named International Winemaker of the Year strategy – away from the more production, more bulk wine approach based at IWSC London. around McGuigan Wines. We’ve taken on a stronger consumer-pull strategy, working very hard with our retailers. When Craig Garvin took over as CEO from Neil McGuigan in 2019 – when it was again named Winestate’s Wine Company of the Year – he signalled a “Our strategic agenda continues to reflect AVL’s transformation into a world period ahead of fundamental change within the company. class branded wine company,” Garvin says. “We are creating a business where sales are consumer driven and we are investing in our people, brands and Those changes have clearly been effective. In the UK, for example, despite customer partnerships globally to ensure we leverage the capital investments industry wide supply chain issues post Brexit, Australian Vintage’s market made over recent years.” share grew at twice the rate of the overall UK wine market, which declined by 10 per cent, led by McGuigan and Tempus Two, the fastest growing Top 50 FINALISTS Reillys Wines brand in the UK grocery sector, growing by 75 per cent over the year. In the Yalumba & Hill-Smith no-and-low category, the overall UK market grew by 11 per cent with Australian CW Wines Family Vineyards Vintage products growing by more than 50 per cent, with McGuigan Zero now Gralyn Estate the top alcohol-free still wine brand in the UK. “The focus on our pillar brands has ensured market share and margin growth, which is an imperative for the future improvement in shareholder return,” Garvin says. “Our pillar brands - McGuigan, Tempus Two, Nepenthe, and Barossa Valley Wine Company - have grown to 78 per cent of our revenue, a seven per cent increase over the prior year, and on track to represent over 80 per cent of our revenue. “With the investment in our pillar brands our underlying gross margin has increased to 35 per cent, well on the way to a sustainable gross margin of 40 per cent. Our super premium and luxury brands have grown by 20 per cent since 2019, contributing 13 per cent to our overall revenue in 2022, and on track to grow by another 20 per cent over the next three to five years.” 56 W I N E S TAT E W ine of the Year Awards Annual Edition 2023

AUSTRALIAN winemaker of the year ANDREW DUFF, Tempus Two “The reason I love Tempus Two is that it is more entrepreneurial,” Duff explained. “We’re new school, not tied to tradition or a family of traditional techniques, so we get to play around more.” NIGEL HOPKINS THE irony for Andrew Duff is that the day he was told he was Winestate’s in Australia, growing by more than 140 per cent in the previous five years. 2022 Winemaker of the Year was his last day at work for the wine company, Duff put its success down to the lack of winemaking tradition of his wine team Tempus Two, that had provided him with the opportunity to shine so brightly as a winemaker. as well as his own viticulture training in New Zealand because it allowed them to approach the wines with far greater freedom and a more experimental attitude. And shine he definitely did in his 10 years as chief winemaker for a company that, in turn, has had a stellar performance since it was launched in 1997 with “The reason I love Tempus Two is that it is more entrepreneurial,” Duff what was then a modest annual production of just 6000 dozen cases. explained. “We’re new school, not tied to tradition or a family of traditional techniques, so we get to play around more.” “It’s been a lovely 10 years,” Duff says. The decision by Tempus Two owner Australian Vintage to close its Pokolbin operation and move production to This, he said, included embracing techniques such as extended maceration Mildura came at a time when newly-married and family man Duff wasn’t ready over 380 days, work on the lees, thermos vinification of the red wines and to leave his much loved Hunter region, so he’s decided to stay put. trying different types of wood ageing such as acacia, cherry wood and different oaks, and experimenting to manipulate wild fermentation. But he’s also looking forward to taking all that he learned at Tempus Two and putting it to work at Hart & Hunter, a newish boutique winery established in The aim was not to ‘overplay’ the wines, as Australia had been prone to do, 2009, with a production of less than half that of Tempus Two when it started. with grapes left on the vine too long and a heavy use of oak, but to let the oak “harmonise” rather than dominate. For Duff, the fact that it’s quintessentially Hunter is all that matters. He grew up in Maitland with parents that were lovers of Hunter Valley wines. Winemaking Duff’s undoubted disappointment at Tempus Two’s move to Mildura has been became a natural choice and one that he embraced even as a child – when tempered by his acceptance into the 2022 Len Evans Tutorial – he was still asked what he wanted to be when he grew up, it always included owning a on a high even as he walked out the Tempus Two door. “Probably the most vineyard. amazing wine week of my life,” he says. “I’ve applied for 10 years and never thought I’d get there.” He did work experience during vintage with a local winery at the age of 15 and following a move to New Zealand in 1997 he completed college and went When he left Tempus Two Duff was responsible for a portfolio of 68 on to study Wine Science at the Eastern Institute of Technology in Hawke’s wines. “It was daunting at first,” he says. “It meant having a lot of trust in Bay. Along the way he worked vintages at various wineries in New Zealand our senior winemakers working at multiple facilities, having faith and good and Australia, including Tyrrell’s in the Hunter Valley. communication.” In 2008, Duff moved back to Australia and a position as assistant winemaker It will be a much smaller operation for him now, but the challenge will be the at Tempus Two, drawn to the role by his admiration for the McGuigan family, in same. “To keep the Hunter in people’s thoughts and to make the great wines particular Neil McGuigan who had nurtured and developed a team of highly that the Hunter is capable of.” talented winemakers as then CEO of Australian Vintage. Later that year, he followed former Tempus Two winemaker Liz Jackson to First Creek, also FINALISTS working stints at other leading Hunter Valley wineries including Tower Estate and Poole’s Rock. A. B. C. When, in 2012, the role of winemaker came up at Tempus Two, Duff leapt A. Justin Ardill, Reillys at the chance. B. Eric Semmler, 919 Wines C. Annette & Scott Baxter, Gralyn Estate “The main challenge at the time was that Australian Vintage was previously D. Chester Osborn, d'Arenberg known best for producing bulk wine,” Duff says. “Now the opportunity was to develop our branded wines and we had to convince people of the quality D. of our wines in the bottle. We didn’t own our own vineyards and we were dependent on our group of contract growers. It took a lot of wine shows to get those runs on the board.” It also came at a time when Tempus Two was expanding in the export market, with a main focus on the UK market. “Staying committed to the UK, when others were going to China, ended up working really well for the company,” he says. “We’re focusing on drier styles, not over the top in oak, but concentrating on the purity of the fruit,” Duff explained following the launch of Tempus Two’s Quartz range in 2019. At the time Tempus Two was the fastest growing brand Wine of the Year Awards Annual Edition 2023 W I N E S TAT E 57

C M Y CM MY CY CMY K

SPARKLING of the year WINNER THE AMORIM TROPHY Taltarni Vintage Pyrenees Blanc de Blancs 2018 WINEMAKER: Robert Heywood, Ben Howell COLOUR, BOUQUET, PALATE: Pale golden straw with a light green hue. Citrus notes of lemon curd and toasted yeast character of bread and dough. Clean, crisp and persistent on the palate with great acid balance and complexity form a layered and creamy palate. FOOD SUGGESTIONS: White flesh fish, oysters, green salad, soft cheeses. CELLARING: 3-5 years VITICULTURE: Cool climate. Medium density planting of Chardonnay 8-10t Ha yield maintains great natural acid flavour profile. VINIFICATION & MATURATION: Harvested at night and pressed whole berry, cold settled for 24 hours then fermentation initiated. After 5 days 15 % ran off to barrel for fermentation to complete and malolactic to initiate. Aged fro 6-8 months in oak and stainless steel and then put into secondary fermentation Methode Traditionelle. Aged on lees in bottle for 3.5 years prior to disgorgement. Aged Chardonnay used for disgorging liqueur. CONSUMER CONTACT DETAILS: Phone: (03) 5459 7900 Email: [email protected] Web: www.taltarni.com.au LUIGI BORMIOLI GLASS - I Meravigliosi Prosecco 400ml Wine of the Year Awards Annual Edition 2023 W I N E S TAT E 59

W I N E S TAT E - W I N E O F T H E Y E A R AWA R D S F IN AL ISTS BANGOR TASMANIA CENTENNIAL VINEYARDS SOUTHERN BLANC DE BLANC 2016 HIGHLANDS NSW BRUT ROSÉ NV WINEMAKER: WINEMAKER: Liam McElhinney Tony Cosgriff COLOUR, BOUQUET, PALATE: COLOUR, BOUQUET, PALATE: Deliciously crisp, with a persistent fine bead and A short period of time on skins is the only colour a delightful presence from the lovely complexity of extraction method with no additional red wine flavours, this is an exquisitely vibrant and balanced added at dosage. We aim for a delicate pale sparkling. Enticing lemon meringue, sea spray and salmon colour. The complex and stylish bouquet oyster shell aromas on the nose, follow through features spicy red fruits, almond skin, wood spice to layers of citrus, grapefruit, apple, peach, and and brine-like notes. The crisp palate shows crème brûlée on the palate. citrussy apple, strawberry, with lovely length CONSUMER CONTACT DETAILS: of flavour. Fine acidity and low dosage keeps Phone: 0438 535 788 everything in line. 4 years on lees adds complexity Email: [email protected] and interest. Web: www.bangorshed.com.au CONSUMER CONTACT DETAILS: Phone: (02) 4861 8722 Email: [email protected] Web: www.centennial.net.au 60 W I N E S TAT E W ine of the Year Awards Annual Edition 2023

JANSZ LATE DISGORGED VINTAGE SIDEWOOD ISABELLA ROSE ADELAIDE TASMANIA CUVÉE 2014 HILLS SPARKLING ROSÉ 2015 WINEMAKER: WINEMAKER: Jennifer Doyle Henry Borchardt and Darryl Catlin COLOUR, BOUQUET, PALATE: COLOUR, BOUQUET, PALATE: Pale gold in colour with a delicate bead and Displaying aromas of red berries with enticing persistent mousse. Intense, complex aromas of delicate hints of pressed flowers, this wine preserved lemon, poached pear and oyster shell exhibits flavours of wild strawberries, raspberries, with underlying nuances of truffle and roasted cinnamon, citrus blossom and toasted brioche. hazelnuts. The palate is elegant, layered and The palate is delightfully balanced yet zesty with complex. a crisp acidity and long textural finish. CONSUMER CONTACT DETAILS: CONSUMER CONTACT DETAILS: Phone: +61 (03) 6382 7066 Phone: +61 (08) 8389 9234 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Web: www.jansz.com.au Web: www.sidewood.com.au Wine of the Year Awards Annual Edition 2023 W I N E S TAT E 61

Superior lead-free, Extra strong stems high tech crystal Transparency & brilliance for Made in Italy over 4,000 washing cycles Vinea by Retail enquiries call 1800 709 714 Hospitality enquiries call (02) 8571 9988 Luigi Bormioli Australia @luigibormioliau Luigi Bormioli Australia

ALTERNATIVE WHITE of the year WINNER THE LUIGI BORMIOLI TROPHY Artwine In the Groove Single Vineyard Adelaide Hills Gruner Veltliner 2022 WINEMAKER: Artwine COLOUR, BOUQUET, PALATE: A dry wine with aromas of citrus notes, nectarine and pineapple with a classic trademark touch of white pepper. The slightly textural palate delivers full mouth fruit of citrus and stone fruit with hints of spice and celery. FOOD SUGGESTIONS: A very versatile food wine which especially sings when paired to spicy dishes. Try with spicy foods like Thai and Indian curries, its textural palate works well with both fish and white meat dishes. CELLARING: Gruner Veltliner is a variety that ages well and should develop for approximately 7 - 10 years. VITICULTURE: Vineyard approx. 420 metres above sea level. The vines were shoot thinned, then bunch-thinned after set. Fruit was netted after veraison and picked early morning 26th March 22 at approximately12.5 Baume. VINIFICATION & MATURATION: Grapes de-stemmed and chilled then gently pressed to tank. Free run and pressings juice kept separate. Pressing juice fined and returned to free run for 48 hours cold settling. Racked to stainless steel fermenter and then inoculated with selected yeast culture. The juice was fermented at a controlled temperature until dry. The resulting wine was clarified and fined prior to bottling on 24th May 2022. CONSUMER CONTACT DETAILS: Phone: 0400 270 584 Email: [email protected] Web: www.artwine.com.au LUIGI BORMIOLI GLASS - Intenso Chianti 350ml Wine of the Year Awards Annual Edition 2023 W I N E S TAT E 63

W I N E S TAT E - W I N E O F T H E Y E A R AWA R D S F IN AL ISTS ARTWINE TI AMO SINGLE VINEYARD ARTWINE WICKED STEPMOTHER ADELAIDE HILLS ARNEIS 2021 CLARE VALLEY FIANO 2022 WINEMAKER: WINEMAKER: Artwine Artwine COLOUR, BOUQUET, PALATE: COLOUR, BOUQUET, PALATE: Arneis is a fragrant crisp white wine with floral Fiano has elegant floral aromatics with a hint of aromas and a palate of apple/pear with some spice. A delicious fresh palate with a hint of spice citrus and hints of stone fruit and nuttiness with a and notes of honey and hazelnut, which intensify slight textural palate. Originating from the Piedmont as the wine ages. region of Italy. Arneis has a nickname “Little Rascal” CONSUMER CONTACT DETAILS: due to it's reputation of being difficult to grow. Phone: 0400 270 584 CONSUMER CONTACT DETAILS: Email: [email protected] Phone: 0400 270 584 Web: www.artwine.com.au Email: [email protected] Web: www.artwine.com.au 64 W I N E S TAT E W ine of the Year Awards Annual Edition 2023

HAND CRAFTED BY GEOFF HARDY GATT ACCENT BAROSSA VALLEY LIMESTONE COAST VERDELHO 2021 VIOGNIER 2019 WINEMAKER: WINEMAKER: Shane Harris David Norman COLOUR, BOUQUET, PALATE: COLOUR, BOUQUET, PALATE: Pale straw in colour this verdelho shows a different Very pale straw, with great clarity. White peach side of the variety. A short time on skins allows the blossom and a hint of citrus curd. Vibrant stone spicy, lemongrass and pickled ginger of the variety fruit across the palate with a tight native lime acid to be expressed to complement the apple, citrus length. Delicate floral notes with lemon myrtle and and melon. The palate remains medium bodied a light hint of lilac adding complexity, along with with loads of fresh pulpy tropical fruits accentuated textural balance and a touch of creaminess. by the fruit derived spice elements. CONSUMER CONTACT DETAILS: CONSUMER CONTACT DETAILS: Phone: (08) 8564 1166 Phone: +61 8 8388 3700 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Web: www.gattwines.com Web: www.winesbygeoffhardy.com.au Wine of the Year Awards Annual Edition 2023 W I N E S TAT E 65

2023

RIESLING of the year WINNER THE LE CORDON BLEU TROPHY Taylors Wines Estate Clare Valley Adelaide Hills Riesling 2022 WINEMAKER: Chad Bowman COLOUR, BOUQUET, PALATE: At release, there is a bright, vibrant clarity to the wine. It has a very pale straw colour and subtle green highlights to the edges. The wine displays lifted fresh and vibrant aromas. Kaffir lime and lemon characters abound, followed by layers of subtle blossom and enticing floral talc nuances. The wine displays intense citrus fruit characters of fresh lemon and lime along with hints of orange blossom. Through the mid-palate there is excellent fruit presence with zesty fresh lemon and lime characters. The finish is crisp, clean and persistent with lively balanced acidity. FOOD SUGGESTIONS: Vietnamese & Thai dishes pair fantastically. Also try Smoked Salmon, Fish & Chips, light Mexican style seafood dishes. Certified Vegan Friendly. CELLARING: Crafted for immediate enjoyment but will cellar over a short term under ideal conditions. VITICULTURE: Fruit was sourced from Clare Valley & Adelaide Hills partnership vineyards. The vineyards use single wire trellis with VSP wires. Both vineyards used minimal irrigation, only essential watering during heat waves. VINIFICATION & MATURATION: The fruit was harvested in the cool of the early morning and quickly transferred to the winery where it was whole-berry handled directly to our cooled Pera air bag press. Juice was delicately extracted at zero to very low pressure and then settled in stainless steel tanks for 48 hours prior to fermentation. A range of yeast strains were used across the different fruit parcels comprising this blend. Following primary fermentation the wines were chilled, racked and stabilised to lock in the natural intensity and purity of the fruit flavours. The wine was then filtered and immediately prepared for bottling late June 2022. Technical Details Alcohol 12.0% Acid 7.78g/litre PH 3.30 Residual Sugar 3.30g/litre CONSUMER CONTACT DETAILS: Phone: 1800 804 295 Email: [email protected] Web: www.taylorswines.com.au LUIGI BORMIOLI GLASS - Atelier Riesling 440ml Wine of the Year Awards Annual Edition 2023 W I N E S TAT E 67

W I N E S TAT E - W I N E O F T H E Y E A R AWA R D S F IN AL ISTS PEWSEY VALE VINEYARD ESTATE REILLYS WATERVALE CLARE VALLEY EDEN VALLEY RIESLING 2022 RIESLING 2022 WINEMAKER: WINEMAKER: Louisa Rose Justin Ardill COLOUR, BOUQUET, PALATE: COLOUR, BOUQUET, PALATE: Pale straw with green hues. Intense aromas Colour of pale straw yellow. Bouquet of lifted suggest fine dried herbs, white flowers, a hint of floral aromas. Palate of refreshing lemon and lime pineapple and lemons and lime fruit. A long and followed by crisp acid on the finish. rich palate, reminiscent of grapefruit and lime CONSUMER CONTACT DETAILS: flavours and fresh rosemary. The wine finishes with Phone: +61 8 8843 9013 a soft natural acidity which balances the flavour Email: [email protected] intensity and minerality. Web: www.reillyswines.com.au CONSUMER CONTACT DETAILS: Phone: +61 8 8561 3200 Email: [email protected] Web: www.pewseyvale.com.au 68 W I N E S TAT E W ine of the Year Awards Annual Edition 2023

LMB ORANGE RIESLING 2022 KERRIGAN + BERRY MOUNT BARKER RIESLING 2022 WINEMAKER: WINEMAKER: Lisa Bray Michael Kerrigan + Gavin Berry COLOUR, BOUQUET, PALATE: COLOUR, BOUQUET, PALATE: Lime zest and lemon blossom aromas. The KERRIGAN + BERRY Riesling is a pale straw Concentrated on the palate with a fine acidity and colour with lively, steely green tinges. The nose generous finish. is a perfumed blend of limes, lemons, and more CONSUMER CONTACT DETAILS: tropical passionfruit. The initial impression on the Phone: 0428 274 135 palate is that of seamless structure, fine vibrant Email: [email protected] acids and lingering citrus flavours. The use of Web: www.lmbwines.com free-run juice only has given the wine “fineness”, balancing the fragile varietal flavours of riesling. There is a complex array of flavours in the mouth, dominated by lemons, limes and grapefruit. These are supported by hints of spice and minerals on the mid-palate and green apple on the impressively long finish. CONSUMER CONTACT DETAILS: Phone: +61 8 97556046 Hay Shed Hill Wines Email: [email protected] Web: www.hayshedhill.com.au/pages/k-b Wine of the Year Awards Annual Edition 2023 W I N E S TAT E 69

All Publication work for books and magazines in digital or offset formats All Point of sale promotional and display collateral Distribution, Storage and fulfilment services for books and magazines DAI Print your one stop provider: from Print ready files to end customer Contact Miriam ([email protected]) for all your publication and collateral needs. DAI Print is proud to be a supplier to WINESTATE Magazine

SAUVIGNON BLANC of the year WINNER THE DAI PRINT TROPHY Saint Clair Pioneer Block 3 Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2021 WINEMAKER: Stewart Maclennan COLOUR, BOUQUET, PALATE: Pale green in colour. Aroma of bright green capsicum and kaffir lime leaf with a hint of freshly cut grass. Palate of intense blackcurrant with generous layers of tropical passionfruit and a rich herbaceous thread. A distinct salty oyster shell character leads to a long lingering finish. FOOD SUGGESTIONS: An ideal match with freshly shucked natural oysters. CELLARING: Drinking beautifully now and best enjoyed over the next two years. VITICULTURE: Regional characteristics and contribution to uniqueness of flavours: Rows are planted north-east to south-west at a 43 degree angle rather than the typical north to south. This leads to slightly greener characters in grapes on the south facing side and more tropical characters in grapes on the north facing side. The resulting wine is therefore multi-dimensional and complex. The site is cooler than some other areas of the valley and hence slower to ripen. The distinguishing flavours are crushed herbs (often associated with the coastal Awatere region) and an absence of sweaty characteristics. Viticulture: Vertical shoot positioning, four cane. VINIFICATION & MATURATION: The fruit was pressed off as quickly as possible to minimise skin contact and juice deterioration following harvesting. After settling the juice was fermented using selected yeast in 100 per cent stainless steel at cool temperatures to retain fruit flavour and freshness. This batch was selected as a Pioneer Block wine due to its unique flavour, intensity and complexity. CONSUMER CONTACT DETAILS: Phone: +64 3 578 8695 Email: [email protected] Web: www.saintclair.co.nz LUIGI BORMIOLI GLASS - Vinea Sauvignon 350ml Wine of the Year Awards Annual Edition 2023 W I N E S TAT E 71

W I N E S TAT E - W I N E O F T H E Y E A R AWA R D S F IN AL ISTS AWATERE RIVER MARLBOROUGH DELTA MARLBOROUGH SAUVIGNON BLANC 2022 SAUVIGNON BLANC 2022 WINEMAKER: WINEMAKER: Andrew Parley Heather Stewart COLOUR, BOUQUET, PALATE: COLOUR, BOUQUET, PALATE: Ripe fruit aromas of gooseberry, kaffir lime, peach Colour: pale green. Nose: elegant, aromas of white and thyme. Full and juicy on the palate with pure, currant, citrus and mineral oystershell. Palate: concentrated flavours, bright freshness and a an intense and weighty palate showing textural long finish showing typical minerality. A vibrant layers of tropical fruits, fresh citris peel with a crisp, wine showing finesse, elegance and sub-regional mineral finish. character with excellent weight. CONSUMER CONTACT DETAILS: CONSUMER CONTACT DETAILS: Phone: +64 3 578 8594 Phone: +64 6 879 8768 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Web: www.deltawines.co.nz Web: www.awatereriver.co.nz 72 W I N E S TAT E W ine of the Year Awards Annual Edition 2023

YEALANDS RESERVE MARLBOROUGH STONELEIGH RAPAURA SERIES Contact Miriam ([email protected]) for all your publication and SAUVIGNON BLANC 2022 SINGLE VINEYARD MARLBOROUGH collateral needs. SAUVIGNON BLANC 2022 DAI Print is proud to be a supplier to WINESTATE Magazine WINEMAKER: WINEMAKER: Natalie Christensen Jamie Marfell COLOUR, BOUQUET, PALATE: COLOUR, BOUQUET, PALATE: Bouquet: Lifted notes of flowering herbs, This wine shows vibrant fruit intensity, upfront blackcurrant bud, passionfruit and sweet pea, passionfruit, lime gooseberry aromas coupled underpinned with citrus notes. Palate: A generous with lemon grass notes which carry through to palate with pure, concentrated fruit flavours the palate. The palate is juicy, enormous varietal balanced by a deliciously long, crisp mineral finish. intensity, mouth-watering acidity that lingers. CONSUMER CONTACT DETAILS: CONSUMER CONTACT DETAILS: Phone: +64 03 575 7618 Phone: 0800 503 000 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Web: www.yealands.co.nz Web: www.stoneleigh.com Wine of the Year Awards Annual Edition 2023 W I N E S TAT E 73

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PINOT GRIS/GRIGIO of the year WINNER THE KEWCO TROPHY Hahndorf Hill Adelaide Hills Pinot Grigio 2022 WINEMAKER: Larry Jacobs & Michael Sykes COLOUR, BOUQUET, PALATE: Light yellow with green lights. The nose is brimming with apple blossom and poached pear and the palate is crisp and vibrant with a distillation of apple skin, sliced pear and a hint of muskmelon. The wine has a long and juicy tail with a delicate hint of texture. FOOD SUGGESTIONS: Enjoy with all white meats, pastas, perfect for all things vegetarian, and your favourite seafood dishes. CELLARING: This style of cool-climate Pinot Grigio will develop well for 7–10 years. VITICULTURE: Three distinctly different Adelaide Hills vineyard sites were selected for this wine, so as to contribute complexity. In all cases the vines were spur-pruned with VSP canopy and the yields were restricted to between 3–3.5 tonnes per acre. VINIFICATION & MATURATION: All the fruit was hand-harvested then chilled for 24 hours in slotted bins. The fruit was destemmed and crushed and the juice was managed specifically to eliminate all colour anthocyanins. The settled juice was then cool-fermented in stainless steel tanks with a selected cultured yeast. CONSUMER CONTACT DETAILS: Phone: +61 8 8388 7512 Email: [email protected] Web: www.hahndorfhillwinery.com.au LUIGI BORMIOLI GLASS - Magnifico Chianti 350ml Wine of the Year Awards Annual Edition 2023 W I N E S TAT E 75

W I N E S TAT E - W I N E O F T H E Y E A R AWA R D S F IN AL ISTS MARISCO VINEYARDS THE NED GAPSTED WINES HIGH COUNTRY MARLBOROUGH PINOT GRIS 2022 KING VALLEY PINOT GRIS 2021 WINEMAKER: WINEMAKER: Matt Mitchell Toni Pla Bou COLOUR, BOUQUET, PALATE: COLOUR, BOUQUET, PALATE: Recognisably salmon pink in colour, The Ned Pinot The wine has a bright champagne hue. The nose Gris 2022 showcases classic aromas of quince, shows poached pear and apple, juicy loquat and pear drop and vibrant stonefruit. The palate is custard apple. The palate is relaxed, generous lush with juicy nectarine and Braeburn flavours and long, without showing undue heat from the supported by an underlying hint of spice that leads higher alcohol. to an unctuous ripe finish. CONSUMER CONTACT DETAILS: CONSUMER CONTACT DETAILS: Phone: (03) 5751 9100 Phone: +64 9 5252 9684 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Web: www.gapstedestate.com.au Web: www.marisco.co.nz 76 W I N E S TAT E W ine of the Year Awards Annual Edition 2023

TOMICH WINES TOMICH HILL MR RIGGS MRS ADELAIDE HILLS ADELAIDE HILLS PINOT GRIGIO 2022 PINOT GRIS 2022 WINEMAKER: WINEMAKER: Randal Tomich Ben Riggs COLOUR, BOUQUET, PALATE: COLOUR, BOUQUET, PALATE: Colour: Pale straw in colour. Transparent golden yellow wine with a bright, Bouquet: Notes of citrus and melon. fresh and crisp mouth feel with a nashi pear fruit Palate: Zesty citrus, balanced by just a touch characteristic to it. Quite pretty on the nose with of honey-like richness, is complemented by a hint of white peach and stone fruit aromatics. a wonderful flinty crisp finish. This wine has a Strong fruit presence without being overpowering. freshness that makes it enjoyable for many. CONSUMER CONTACT DETAILS: CONSUMER CONTACT DETAILS: Phone: +61 04 4876 9916 Phone: +61 8 8299 7500 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Web: www.mrriggs.com.au Web: www.tomich.com.au Wine of the Year Awards Annual Edition 2023 W I N E S TAT E 77

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SEMILLON of the year WINNER THE WILLIAM ANGLISS TROPHY Tempus Two Pewter Hunter Valley Semillon 2013 WINEMAKER: Andrew Duff COLOUR, BOUQUET, PALATE: Pale straw with some development apparent, more than appropriate for wine age. Citrus dominated cashew and lime rind tertiary nuances over crisp, refreshing and crunchy acidity. This stunning example of a Hunter Valley Semillon is drinking seamlessly now and will continue to age gracefully over the next 5-10 years. FOOD SUGGESTIONS: Oysters, sashimi, any seafood you can imagine and most especially fish and chips! CELLARING: 10 - 20 years. VITICULTURE: Sandy loam, VSP. Old vine Hunter Semillon. VINIFICATION & MATURATION: The wine was machine harvested in the cool of night, crushed stemmed and de-juiced immediately. The juice was settled and racked and fermented in stainless steel using champagne isolate yeast. It was clarified and filtered into bottle immediately after fermentation to retain freshness and longevity. CONSUMER CONTACT DETAILS: Phone: (AUS) 04 1746 3068 Email: [email protected] Web: www.tempustwo.com.au/our-winemaker LUIGI BORMIOLI GLASS - Doc Wine 510ml Wine of the Year Awards Annual Edition 2023 W I N E S TAT E 79

W I N E S TAT E - W I N E O F T H E Y E A R AWA R D S F IN AL ISTS MCGUIGAN BIN 9000 HUNTER VALLEY MCGUIGAN BIN 9000 HUNTER VALLEY SEMILLON 2017 SEMILLON 2022 WINEMAKER: WINEMAKER: Ryan Andrew Ryan Andrew COLOUR, BOUQUET, PALATE: COLOUR, BOUQUET, PALATE: Bright green grass. Lemon curd with lanolin and Light green straw. Lifted notes of lime zest, papaya slight toasty nuances from bottle development. and lanolin with underlying floral characters. A complex wine with great weight and balance Upfront juicy citrus characters combine with lanolin that displays flavours of lemon sherbet with lovely and a hint of tropical fruit. The wine is balanced by minerality and underlying honeyed notes. crisp and refreshing acidity. CONSUMER CONTACT DETAILS: CONSUMER CONTACT DETAILS: Phone: +61 2 8345 6340 Phone: +61 2 8345 6340 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Web: www.mcguiganwines.com.au Web: www.mcguiganwines.com.au 80 W I N E S TAT E W ine of the Year Awards Annual Edition 2023

COOLANGATTA ESTATE ESTATE TEMPUS TWO PEWTER HUNTER GROWN SHOALHAVEN COAST VALLEY SEMILLON 2014 SEMILLON 2016 WINEMAKER: WINEMAKER: Andrew Spinaze Andrew Duff COLOUR, BOUQUET, PALATE: COLOUR, BOUQUET, PALATE: Youthful glowing colour. Quite a tight nose showing Pale straw with some development apparent, more citrus and honey. Rich fresh palate showing cream, than appropriate for wine age. Citrus dominated limes and brulee which is long and intense. Not cashew and lime rind tertiary nuances over crisp, really showing its age. refreshing and crunchy acidity. This stunning CONSUMER CONTACT DETAILS: example of Hunter Valley Semillon is drinking Phone: +61 4448 7131 seamlessly now and will continue to age gracefully Email: [email protected] over the next 5-10 years. Web: www.coolangattaestate.com.au CONSUMER CONTACT DETAILS: Phone: (AUS) 04 1746 3068 Email: [email protected] Web: www.tempustwo.com.au/our-winemaker Wine of the Year Awards Annual Edition 2023 W I N E S TAT E 81

COP166663 A helping hand in crafting fine wines In the modern, dynamic wine industry the hand crafting of great wines is often overlooked. Whilst only 2% of the world’s wines are made using new oak barrels, a high proportion of the ‘great wines’ of the world are handcrafted in them. For almost two centuries the cooperages of the Tonnellerie François Frères Group have been producing barrels for these wines. The TFF Group has evolved from humble beginnings to now having its brands internationally recognised throughout the wine world. Through its Demptos Research Centre at the University of Bordeaux, it has over the last 20 years quantified the science to explain why new oak barrels provide that added dimension to allow very good fruit to realise its full potential. Classic Oak, on behalf of the TFF Group, is proud to lend a helping hand to the premium programs of many Australian and New Zealand producers. Australia: (02) 9479 4700 New Zealand: 021 500 607 [email protected] 04 472 6050 www.classicoakproducts.com [email protected]

CHARDONNAY of the year LUIGI BORMIOLI GLASS - I Meravigliosi Chardonay 450ml WINNER THE CLASSIC OAK TROPHY Church Road 1 Single Vineyard Terraces Chardonnay 2021 WINEMAKER: Chris Scott COLOUR, BOUQUET, PALATE: Pale yellow with yellow/green hue. This is a full bodied and powerful Chardonnay that still manages to retain good balance and liveliness. This complex wine is built around a core of ripe peach fruit lifted by fresher citrus elements and layered with complexities of roasted hazelnut, toasted brioche and struck flint. The palate is rich, yet finely textured with exceptional textural length and balanced, fresh acidity, finishing with a slate-like minerality. FOOD SUGGESTIONS: A versatile food wine that will work well with a range of richer seafoods and lighter white meat and game and charcuterie dishes. Works particularly with elements of citrus and/or smoke flavour. CELLARING: 2022 - 2030 VITICULTURE: Situated on an old river terrace on the western side of the Tuki Tuki River, just North of Te Mata Peak. The soils here are shallow clay loams over a calcareous clay pan, over an old gravel river bed. 2021 was an outstanding Hawke’s Bay vintage with exceptionally dry, extended drought conditions. By mid-February, the fruit was tasting unseasonably ripe and we made the call to begin our earliest ever Chardonnay harvest, to ensure we retained good freshness and acidity. This has resulted in wines of power, fragrance, line and drive. The vines were trained to two cane VSP with extensive shoot and fruit thinning along with bunch positioning, declumping, close canopy trimming and around 70% removal of leaf through the fruit zone, to ensure a balanced, evenly spaced and well exposed crop. This wine is made entirely from a single block of Clone 548 Chardonnay. VINIFICATION & MATURATION: Hand harvested, sorted and whole bunch pressed directly to French oak barriques without any juice clarification or additions. Wild primary and malolactic fermentation ensued, and has delivered an extra degree of complexity and textural interest. 30% new oak was used to further enhance the depth of the wine without dominating the fruit. The wine was matured on full yeast lees in barrel approximately 11 months with only occasional yeast lees stirring. To avoid any unnecessary stripping effect, the wine was unfined and only lightly filtered for clarity prior to bottling. CONSUMER CONTACT DETAILS: Phone: +64 6 882 3098 Email: [email protected] Web: www.church-road.com Wine of the Year Awards Annual Edition 2023 W I N E S TAT E 83

W I N E S TAT E - W I N E O F T H E Y E A R AWA R D S F IN AL ISTS WILD EARTH CENTRAL OTAGO KRINKLEWOOD BASKET PRESS CHARDONNAY 2021 (ACO) BROKE FORDWICH CHARDONNAY 2021 WINEMAKER: WINEMAKER: Jen Parr Valentina Moresco COLOUR, BOUQUET, PALATE: COLOUR, BOUQUET, PALATE: There is a delicious combination of fresh citrus and Some wine wasn’t meant to be shared, but rather tropical fruit on the nose with a touch of vanilla bean romanced a little and savoured. This Basket Press and ginger. The palate is fresh, zesty, and pure with Chardonnay – with wafts of hazelnut praline, lime a rich mid-palate and a long, lingering finish. The blossom and toasted almond nougat – is one of wine has seamless layers with great precision and those. The palate oozes honeysuckle and hazelnut, focus – it ticks all the boxes of classic chardonnay. lifted with lime zest and drawn out with a long silky Uniquely textured and fresh in its youth, this wine texture. It’s complex and persistent, and you’ll be should develop beautifully for 10+ years. reaching for another glass even before the plush, CONSUMER CONTACT DETAILS: smooth finish. Phone: +64 27 552 0299 CONSUMER CONTACT DETAILS: Email: [email protected] Phone: (02) 6579 1322 Web: www.wildearthwines.co.nz Email: [email protected] Web: www.krinklewood.com 84 W I N E S TAT E W ine of the Year Awards Annual Edition 2023

GARTELMANN WINES LISA RESERVE GAPSTED WINES BALLERINA CANOPY HUNTER VALLEY CHARDONNAY 2021 KING VALLEY CHARDONNAY 2019 WINEMAKER: WINEMAKER: Liz Silkman/Annabel Holland – Toni Pla Bou First Creek Winemaking Services COLOUR, BOUQUET, PALATE: COLOUR, BOUQUET, PALATE: The wine is a vivid light gold with glints of green. Pale straw to golden hues with white peach, The bouquet shows an amalgam of sweet citrus, nectarine and a subtle flintiness on the nose. The nectarine, white peach, toast, honey, coffee, French palate is soft and textural, exhibiting cashew, vanilla and a hint of funk. The palate has a primary nougat and melon characters with balanced oak fruit entry with taught fresh acidity, following onto a and vanilla on the finish. Drinking well but will malolactic silkiness overlaying textural oak tannins. improve over the next 5+ years. The wine is full without being broad and elegant CONSUMER CONTACT DETAILS: without being lacking, it finishes with a satisfying Phone: +61 2 4930 7113 length and freshness. Email: [email protected] CONSUMER CONTACT DETAILS: Web: www.gartelmann.com.au Phone: (03) 5751 9100 Email: [email protected] Web: www.gapstedestate.com.au Wine of the Year Awards Annual Edition 2023 W I N E S TAT E 85

the food. the wine. the experience. Stunning architecture, award-winning functions and events, an interactive Wine Discovery Journey, Wined Bar showcasing the best produce from across South Australia and Australia’s broadest wine range to taste - at your fingertips. There truly is something for everyone to experience at the National Wine Centre. OPEN 7 DAYS Corner of Hackney and Botanic Roads, Adelaide SA 5000 [email protected] I 08 8313 3355 I nationalwinecentre.com.au

ROSÉ of the year WINNER THE NATIONAL WINE CENTRE TROPHY Short Stories by James Kalleske Wines Barossa Valley Rosé 2022 WINEMAKER: James Kalleske Wines COLOUR, BOUQUET, PALATE: Pink grapefruit, rose petals and crushed summer berries jump out the glass. Hand harvested Grenache shines through as the dominant grape in this dry, racy and textural rosé. Some phenolic tension lends intrigue and energy to this wine, which is produced from parcels of fruit usually reserved for premium Barossa reds. FOOD SUGGESTIONS: Antipasto, charcuterie, soft cheeses, olive oil-based pastas, fish tacos. CELLARING: 18 months. VITICULTURE: 42-year-old Grenache vines in the cooler southern side of the Barossa Valley produce the majority portion of this wine, with a spectacular young block of Mourvèdre bush vines and a block of 28 year old Shiraz vines, both in the central Barossa Valley belt, making up the rest of the wine. VINIFICATION & MATURATION: We favour hand-picking in the cool of the morning because it gives us best control over the light extraction of juice for high-end rosé production. Each of the parcels are harvested at varying ripeness levels to create a balance of acid, minerality and freshness, as well as riper fruit characters and power in the wine. Gentle pressing at low temperature is followed by cool fermentation as separate batches, with each batch utilising a different yeast strain to complement the specific grape variety’s natural characteristics and to create layers of complexity in the wine. Four months aging on light lees after fermentation brings some texture and finesse, before being bottled in July while it is still young and fresh. CONSUMER CONTACT DETAILS: Phone: 0401 632 620 Email: [email protected] Web: www.jameskalleskewines.com.au LUIGI BORMIOLI GLASS - I Meravigliosi Stemless 450ml Wine of the Year Awards Annual Edition 2023 W I N E S TAT E 87

W I N E S TAT E - W I N E O F T H E Y E A R AWA R D S F IN AL ISTS TAYLOR MADE ADELAIDE HILLS BANGOR MARIA TASMANIA PINOT NOIR ROSÉ 2022 PINOT ROSÉ 2022 WINEMAKER: WINEMAKER: Chad Bowman Liam McElhinney COLOUR, BOUQUET, PALATE: COLOUR, BOUQUET, PALATE: At release the wine has a very pale salmon pink Bangor’s Maria Rosé is a bright and refreshing colour. There are restrained and subtle strawberry wine. Showcasing mouth-watering summer berries, notes with hidden layers of complexity including with exquisite strawberry, raspberry, rhubarb and hints of flint and floral notes. This wine displays savoury cherry characters, complimented by a soft attractive savoury notes with subtle fruit, mineral creamy texture from partial barrel aging on lees. and talc characters. The extremely gentle fruit CONSUMER CONTACT DETAILS: handling along with the naturally occurring enzyme Phone: 0438 535 788 clarification process has resulted in an enticing Email: [email protected] wine that is both delicate in nature but also Web: www.bangorshed.com.au surprising in its generous layers of mouth-watering flavour. A tightly structured acid line provides structure and the finish is crisp and dry. CONSUMER CONTACT DETAILS: Phone: 1800 804 295 Email: [email protected] Web: www.taylorswines.com.au 88 W I N E S TAT E W ine of the Year Awards Annual Edition 2023

SMALL VICTORIES WINE CO BAROSSA BUNNAMAGOO MUDGEE ROSÉ 2022 VALLEY RIVERLAND ROSÉ 2022 WINEMAKER: WINEMAKER: Julie Ashmead Tom Dunstan, Robert Black COLOUR, BOUQUET, PALATE: COLOUR, BOUQUET, PALATE: Pale pink in colour. Style is crisp and fresh, Pale pink blush, the palate displays luscious deliciously savoury. Aroma of lifted strawberry fruit, flavours of strawberries and lemon zest with aromas peppered with spice. Palate of ripe red berries and of rose water and musk. musk finishing with a crunch of vibrant acid and CONSUMER CONTACT DETAILS: savoury undertones. Phone: (02) 6373 3046 CONSUMER CONTACT DETAILS: Email: [email protected] Phone: +61 8 8568 7877 Web: www.bunnamagoowines.com.au Email: [email protected] Web: www.smallvictorieswine.com Wine of the Year Awards Annual Edition 2023 W I N E S TAT E 89

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ALTERNATIVE RED of the year WINNER THE SMEG TROPHY Scarpantoni Estate McLaren Vale Montepulciano 2021 WINEMAKER: David Fleming, Domenic Scarpantoni & James Scarpantoni COLOUR, BOUQUET, PALATE: The colour is a rich violet cherry with clear, bright hues. This 2021 McLaren Vale Montepulciano has aromas of plum and spiced dark fruits with hints of its depths of complexity lurking deeper within. On the palate it comes alive with crisp natural acidity that lifts its dark cherry and boysenberry palate along with savory spice notes and delicate medium bodied tannins. FOOD SUGGESTIONS: Ideally paired with a tomato base napolitana or pepperoni/salami pizza to highlight and bring out the other rich and deep fruit flavours in the wine. CELLARING: Ideal to drink until 2030, this red is indicative of the regions Italian roots and will be enjoyable both present and post cellaring. VITICULTURE: The 2021 McLaren Vale Montepulciano is a single vineyard produced wine in central McLaren Vale. Grown from rich Terra Rossa soils which highlights its developing quality as each vintage passed since its planting in 2015. This wine is indicative of the growing experimentation of the region in alternate varieties. VINIFICATION & MATURATION: Open fermentation and basket pressed into older, second-use French oak, this Montepulciano is aged for only a short 3-month period before bottling. This single vineyard wine takes advantage of its natural acidity and tannin structure through minimalism techniques of winemaking to emphasise the natural qualities of the varietal. CONSUMER CONTACT DETAILS: Phone: (08) 8383 0186 Email: [email protected] Web: www.scarpantoniwines.com LUIGI BORMIOLI GLASS - Magnifico Wine 460ml Wine of the Year Awards Annual Edition 2023 W I N E S TAT E 91

W I N E S TAT E - W I N E O F T H E Y E A R AWA R D S F IN AL ISTS RUSTY MUTT CONEJO JOVEN BERRIGAN WINES SHINING ROCK MCLAREN VALE TEMPRANILLO 2021 VINEYARD ADELAIDE HILLS SANGIOVESE 2021 WINEMAKER: WINEMAKER: Scott Heidrich Dan Berrigan COLOUR, BOUQUET, PALATE: COLOUR, BOUQUET, PALATE: The colour is a bright and vibrant purple/red, with Medium-light red in colour. Aromas of cherry, violet hues. On the nose, ripe cherries and earthy oregano, thyme and roast tomato. Light-medium strawberry notes come forward, with some plum bodied, with a soft tannin grip and bright acidity. and spice lifting with time in the glass. In the mouth, Flavours of tart cherry, thyme, subtle earthiness, dark berry fruits and herbs blend with the warmth roast tomato and oregano. Varietal, young and and texture, giving a rich first impression. Ripe, fresh. We expect this wine will continue to develop fleshy tannins on the mid palate keep the wine in complexity and depth with age. check, moving towards a tight, savoury finish with CONSUMER CONTACT DETAILS: balanced acidity and length. Phone: 0409 665 013 CONSUMER CONTACT DETAILS: Email: [email protected] Phone: +61 402 050 820 Web: www.berriganwines.com.au Email: [email protected] Web: www.rustymutt.com.au 92 W I N E S TAT E W ine of the Year Awards Annual Edition 2023

ALEX RUSSELL WINES ALEJANDRO ALEX RUSSELL WINES ALEJANDRO NEW SOUTH WALES SAPERAVI 2021 RIVERLAND SA DURIF 2021 WINEMAKER: WINEMAKER: Alex Russell Alex Russell COLOUR, BOUQUET, PALATE: COLOUR, BOUQUET, PALATE: Dark purple red through to black in colour. Intense deep purple red to black in colour. Bouquet Bouquet of mulberry, dark fruits, fennel, and spice of rich dark fruits, American oak derived vanilla, combined to produce a complex aromatic wine that spice and coconut. Palate is rich, brooding, resembles a rich, dark fruit cake. Palate is rich, moreish. tannic, full bodied with lots of French and American CONSUMER CONTACT DETAILS: oak to complement the fruits and spices. Phone: (+61) 400 648 654 CONSUMER CONTACT DETAILS: Email: [email protected] Phone: (+61) 400 648 654 Web: www.russellandsuitor.com.au Email: [email protected] Web: www.russellandsuitor.com.au Wine of the Year Awards Annual Edition 2023 W I N E S TAT E 93

TCrPruaesfrttfeeeddcted Craftsmanship, innovation and attention to detail are required to create fine wine. At Interpack we are passionate in our application of these same skills to create unique closures for a diverse range of wines and beverages. From eye catching embossing and foils through to full colour photographic imagery, at Interpack our technical expertise and innovation sets us apart. Our complete in-house manufacturing facility, ensure total control from concept to creation, so your closures are created on time and to the highest standards. interpack.net.au | +61 3 8358 4444

PINOT NOIR of the year WINNER THE INTERPACK TROPHY Coal Pit Tiwha Central Otago Pinot Noir 2019 WINEMAKER: Anika Willner COLOUR, BOUQUET, PALATE: Deep crimson with a purple hue. Dark cherry aromatics with savoury cocoa undertones, underpinned with delicate notes of dried herbs. Structured tannins extend the length of the palate, signifying great ageability for this wine. An elegant yet powerful Pinot Noir, where depth of fruit and tannin abound, balanced with the delightful acidity that our Coal Pit site is known for. FOOD SUGGESTIONS: Braised short rib with rosemary and porcini. Enjoy with a wide range of food, however this wine matches exceptionally well with game, mushroom and truffle dishes. A broad array of spices can be successfully paired to the wine’s flavours - get creative and best of all, enjoy with great company. CELLARING: Typically, Coal Pit Pinot Noir peaks around 3-4 years of age, with some secondary character profiles apparent while retaining fruit vibrancy. With careful cellaring, flavours will age gracefully into more tertiary and complex characters, around 6-8 years old. VITICULTURE: Subregion: Gibbston, Central Otago. The 2019 growing season produced some exceptional fruit despite being a roller coaster ride. Although warm overall, it started with frosts in early Spring and even a blanketing of snow for Gibbston in November. March and April provided a long steady ripening period, with some late frosts towards the tail end of the harvest. 100% Pinot Noir, hand harvested from clones 115, 10/5, 777, 5, 6 VINIFICATION & MATURATION: 75% destemmed, 4-6 days cold soak, 10 months in 28% new French oak CONSUMER CONTACT DETAILS: Phone: (+64) (0) 27 693 6111 Email: [email protected] Web: www.coalpitwine.com LUIGI BORMIOLI GLASS - Atelier Pinot Noir 610ml Wine of the Year Awards Annual Edition 2023 W I N E S TAT E 95

W I N E S TAT E - W I N E O F T H E Y E A R AWA R D S F IN AL ISTS TAYLORS TAYLOR MADE GREYSTONE VINEYARD FERMENT ADELAIDE HILLS PINOT NOIR 2021 PINOT NOIR 2020 WINEMAKER: WINEMAKER: Thomas Darmody Dominic Maxwell COLOUR, BOUQUET, PALATE: COLOUR, BOUQUET, PALATE: At release the wine is a bright garnet colour with A wine with a true sense of place and time. Rolls out a vibrant rose hue to the edges. There are dark of the glass with lift and complexity of Indian spices cherry and kirsch characters along with subtle (cumin, turmeric), sandalwood, berry, and herbs. dried mint notes. This wine has dark cherry and tart The palate shows delicacy and tension flowing rhubarb characters along with subtle dried herbs. seamlessly into cherry and red berry wrapped The tannins display red apple skin-like characters in earth and mild char with a long, elegant finish. on the palate. The extremely gentle fruit handling CONSUMER CONTACT DETAILS: has resulted in a wine that is both delicate in nature Phone: +64 3 314 6100 and also generous in flavour. A well-defined acid Email: [email protected] profile provides structure whilst the silky tannins Web: www.greystonewines.co.nz provide beautiful texture. The high quality French oak holds court to the finish, which is lingering and extremely moreish. CONSUMER CONTACT DETAILS: Phone: 1800 804 295 Email: [email protected] Web: www.taylorswines.com.au 96 W I N E S TAT E W ine of the Year Awards Annual Edition 2023