Platinum

ALSACE

Domaine Paul Ginglinger, Gewurztraminer, Grand Cru Pfersigberg 2017 (13.8%)

A rich and opulent example with fresh peach aromas and hints of honey. The palate is sweet with a strong acidic backbone creating great balance and an exhilarating mouthfeel. Fresh and long finish. A rich Gewurztraminer to cellar.

N/A UK www.paul-ginglinger.fr

Following internships in Chile, South Africa and Burgundy, Michel Ginglinger (and wife Loreto) took over winemaking duties from his father, Paul, in 2000, meaning he is the 13th-generation winemaker in the family’s 400-year history. The property, 5km south of Colmar, has 13ha of vineyards which get all the benefits of the sun while being sheltered by the Vosges Mountains. In the Pfersigberg grand cru – possibly the finest vineyard in all of Alsace for Gewurztraminer – the family has three individual plots, Schamm, Stich and Ortel, which each stamp their own hallmark on the finished wine.

Gustave Lorentz, Riesling, Grand Cru Kanzlerberg 2015 (13.5%)

An exceptional wine with engaging aromas of minerals, sage, white flowers and smoke. The palate offers crunchy citrus flavours and a minerally acidity that creates freshness, phenomenal length and a lingering saline aftertaste. A rare beauty!

N/A UK www.gustavelorentz.com POA $ Quintessential

Although 1836 marks the year Gustave Lorentz was established as a house in its own right, official records note the presence of this Ribeauvillé-based family in the region from the mid-1700s, through their winegrower and blacksmith ancestor, Jean-Georges Lorentz. Georges Lorentz is the incumbent winemaker (with his three daughters waiting in the wings), who achieved organic certification for his 33ha hillside estate from the 2012 releases. The south- to southwest-facing vineyards of the Kanzlerberg cru, near the town of Bergheim, are planted on steep slopes at an average of 250m.

Aimé Stentz, Muscat Vendanges Tardives 2015 (12.5%)

Bewitching aromas of passionfruit, orange blossom, grapes, curry leaf and honey. The palate is soft, sweet and elegant, with a lovely freshness and an exceptionally long, minerally finish. A truly remarkable wine – bravo!

N/A UK www.vins-stentz.fr

Winning a DWWA Platinum medal in your centenary year is just reward for the resolve shown by five generations of Stentz winemakers. The domaine’s modern-day story began in 1960 when, at a time of desperation within the local wine trade, Aimé Stentz and wife Angèle shifted from bulk production to bottling their own wines. Since 2016 the property has been run by Marc Stentz, whose late-harvest Muscat, from grapes grown in the Hengst grand cru and partially infected by noble rot, is aged for 18 months before release.

ARGENTINA

Finca Flichman, Dedicado Gran Corte, Uco Valley, Mendoza 2015 (13.5%)

An energising, classy and powerful Malbec: dark fruits and oak spice with a hint of earth and crisp acidity with ripe, crunchy tannins to balance. It is perky and spirited so should certainly age graciously. One to enjoy with a grilled ribeye steak.

£35 Liberty Wines

POA $ Evaton

Finca Flichman manages more than 400ha of vineyards in Maipú and Uco Valley. The Dedicado line represents its top tier and the 2015 Gran Corte is a blend of 77% Malbec, 13% Petit Verdot and 10% Cabernet Franc. The hand-picked grapes are meticulously sorted before fermentation, the wine then spending one year in fine-grained French oak before resting for another eight months in bottle. The winemaker is Germán Berra who, in addition to accruing vast experience (and awards) throughout Mendoza, has also worked in California’s Monterey region and is professor of viticulture at Mendoza’s Universidad Maza.

ASIA

Suntory, Tomi No Oka Koshu, Yamanashi, Chubu, Japan 2017 (11.5%)

Beguiling Koshu – elegance and finesse epitomised! A resplendent, complex bouquet – think seashell, white lily, chalk, stone, white peach and pear. So refined and detailed on the palate, with a mineral intensity that builds and builds. The finish lingers forever. Irresistible is the word.

N/A UK www.suntory.com/business/wine

Within sight of Mount Fuji, Tomi No Oka is a mountain formed by a group of smaller hills. Wine has been made here since not long after railroad councillor Shinsuke Koyama acquired the land in 1909; he then invited winemaker Heinrich Ham from Germany to initiate the project. Only estate-grown fruit is used in Tomi No Oka wines, with this award-winning Koshu whole-bunch pressed. Some parcels were fermented and matured in tanks, while others were freeze-concentrated before fermenting with a variety of yeasts in used barrels then maturing in wood. All the components were then blended together.

AUSTRALIA

Arras, Grand Vintage, Tasmania 2008 (12.5%)

Fresh and alive! Rich and weighted with ripe pineapple, orange skin, brioche and shortbread characters. Creamy and textured on the palate with brisk acidity and a persistent finish.

£34.99 Davis Bell McCraith, Harrods

It was over 30 years ago that winemaker Ed Carr began his mission to create world-class Australian sparkling wine. In 1995 he settled on the island of Tasmania where he has developed the House of Arras’ extended-ageing style. ‘I just love the wonderful climate here,’ says Carr. ‘The magical coastline, ancient soils and pristine environment are fantastic for creating wines of great elegance and longevity, which is the key part of our style. Time is an essential part of this creation as well. We age these wines for between five and 10 years, so we need the patience to mature them until they reach their peak.’

Domaine Naturaliste, Artus Chardonnay, Margaret River, Western Australia 2017 (13%)

Big vanilla and toasty brioche nose. Highly toasted new oak on the palate with a great depth of ripe, youthful tropical fruit plus a rich vein of pineapple acidity to carry it. Everything is in place for this to evolve gracefully.

£36 Hayward Bros, Hennings

Following more than three decades of winemaking at home and abroad (including four years at Niebaum-Coppola winery in California), Bruce Dukes struck out on his own and founded Domaine Naturaliste. His 20-year-old vineyards are 7km inland from the Indian Ocean planted to, among others, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and Chardonnay, this cuvée being one of its top two expressions of the grape. Hand-selected berries ferment with wild yeasts in French oak barrels ahead of malolactic fermentation, one year of lees ageing, then 10 months’ maturation in French oak barriques.

McGuigan, The Shortlist Riesling, Eden Valley, South Australia 2009 (11.5%)

Pronounced nose of kerosene and gun metal. Mouthfilling with bright acidity and flavours of lemon curd, lime juice and vanilla pod. A nice rounded mouthfeel with a lemony finish. Outstanding!

N/A UK www.mcguiganwines.com.au

Back in the 1880s, dairy farmer Owen McGuigan supplemented his income by working among the vines in the Hunter Valley. Some 140 years later and his descendants are still going strong in the region’s vineyards, along with with a multi-awarded winery. With the Shortlist range, McGuigan aims to show off not only the classic characters of each variety but also the influence of terroir. These Riesling grapes are sourced from two separate vineyards, both of which take advantage of warm, sunny days for ripening, balanced by brisk nights which helps retain refreshing acidity in the wine.

Mount Mary Vineyard, Chardonnay, Yarra Valley, Victoria 2016 (13.5%)

Superbly balanced with an elegant wet-stone aroma combined with fresh nectarines. Super-fresh lemony acidity runs through the palate, while the creamy, biscuity texture carries the length. Sophisticated wine with a long life ahead.

£61.50 Berry Bros & Rudd

Mount Mary was established in 1971 by John and Marli Middleton who wanted to replicate the wine styles of Bordeaux and Burgundy, and honour the Swiss settlers who first planted vines in Yarra Valley in the 1850s. Mount Mary wines are tenderly hand-crafted. This estate Chardonnay is made following largely Burgundian practices, tweaked for the Yarra climate. The wine never goes through malolactic fermentation because the cool conditions here already leave the fruit with perfect acidity. It is, however, 100% barrel fermented and then matured in oak, 30% new.

Vasse Felix, Heytesbury Chardonnay, Margaret River, Western Australia 2017 (13%)

Bags of personality. Beautiful floral, smoky and lemony aromas with a hint of spice. Delightful textural quality with toasty, savoury nuances and flinty acidity drawing out the long, chalky finish.

£41.90-£49 John E Fells, Noble Green, Pinot & Chardo, Soho Wine Supply, The Australian Cellar

POA $ Winebow

In 1966 an article appeared in a Margaret River newspaper, referencing a report written by a professor from University of California Davis naming the region as being ideal for grape growing due to its climatic similarities with Bordeaux. Dr Thomas Cullity duly spent one year seeking out the perfect site and when he did founded not only Vasse Felix but also Margaret River’s first vineyard. Some three decades later the first Heytesbury Chardonnay was made and this, the most recent expression, maintains the wine’s enviable award-winning record.

Bird in Hand, Nest Egg Chardonnay, Adelaide Hills, South Australia 2017 (13%)

This is a compelling Chardonnay with grapefruit and a hint of struck match on the nose. In the mouth, tropical, orchard and citrus fruits sit alongside classy oak. It has line and length, restraint and underlying power – all up, very impressive.

£40 Frontier Fine Wines, Oxford Wine Co, Seckford Agencies

Andrew Nugent, who grew up next to Penfolds’ Magill Estate, created Bird in Hand from a dilapidated dairy farm, which was formerly a gold mine. He knew the land had the necessary foundations to build his own winery dream, along with help from chief winemaker Kym Milne MW and his team. ‘What I love about winemaking is the aspirational side,’ says Nugent. ‘The combination of agriculture, science and art; the ability to be creative while pursuing quality and excellence.’ He feels this award-winner, fermented with wild yeasts in partially-new French oak, is just beginning to hit its stride.

McGuigan, Bin 9000 Semillon, Hunter Valley, New South Wales 2013 (11%)

Inviting complexity on the nose with green apple, smoke, citrus rind and hazelnut. Even better on the palate with developed characters, chalky acidity and a long, smoky finish. Drinks well now but will keep. Excellent example of the style.

N/A UK www.mcguiganwines.com.au

McGuigan is one of Australia’s largest and most awarded producers, with its Semillons –particularly Bin 9000 – a significant driver of that success. 2013 was a testing vintage in the Hunter Valley and demanded that McGuigan draw on all of its know-how. Low yields were a result of a cool but dry growing season, and then a severe heatwave arrived at the early stages of harvest. Fortunately most of the fruit for this award-winner had already been picked, which has ensured it radiates both grace and power.

Pauletts, Polish Hill River Aged Release Riesling, Clare Valley, South Australia 2012 (12.1%)

Developing nose of dried flowers, citrus fruit and yellow apple. The palate is tight, juicy and zesty with a very long finish. Magical balance with great development potential for the next five to 10 years.

£15.90-£16.99 Ellis Wines, Exel Wines, Harrogate Wines

Polish Hill River, home to Neil and Alison Paulett since the early 1980s, is named in honour of the immigrants who settled in the area in the mid-19th century. Initially the Pauletts’ estate was 47ha, but over the years another 100ha has been added and the land under vine has also increased to 25ha under their vineyard manager son, Matt. The couple released their first vintage in 1983 when Neil had 10 years of winemaking under his belt at Rosemount and Penfolds, and he says his more than four decades of experience have been brought to bear in creating this award-winner.

Stella Bella, Suckfizzle Sauvignon Blanc-Semillon, Margaret River, Western Australia 2016 (13.2%)

A very elegant style with an intense nose of citrus and green tropical fruit, plus creamy, buttery and oaky secondary notes. Bright acidity washes through the juicy palate which has a palpable waxy Semillon character. Lovely persistency.

POA £ The Fine Wine Co

With the Southern Ocean to the south and the Indian Ocean to the west, the 7.5ha Suckfizzle vineyard is Margaret River’s most southerly. It is managed by Steve Martin, Stella Bella’s viticulturist, who is joined in heading up operations by chief winemaker Luke Jolliffe – Joliffe first worked at the winery in 2007as a vintage assistant There’s a international feel to this award-winner, which has been made since 1997 as a homage to Pessac-Léognan’s Domaine de Chevalier.

Tertini, Chardonnay, Tasmania 2017 (13.5%)

Fig, yellow fruit and honey nose. The palate has underlying power and concentration, boasting flavours of ripe tropical and stone fruit, plus well-integrated oak. A serious wine with a lengthy finish.

N/A UK www.tertiniwines.com.au

Julian Tertini began his eponymous venture in the New South Wales region of Southern Highlands almost 20 years ago but always dreamed of making wine in Tasmania, where he spent his childhood. This was finally realised when, with chief winemaker Jonathan Holgate, he bought a 143ha farm on the island, where new rootstocks have been planted. With these vines yet to fully mature (and perhaps patience being in short supply), Holgate joined forces with