Annual Wine of the Year Awards Issue JAN FEB 2021

Winestate Magazine

A wine state of mind

Winestate Magazine1 min read
Winestate Magazine
Editor & Publisher Peter Simic E: editor@winestate.com.au Managing Editor Lara Simic E: lara@winestate.com.au NZ Editor Michael Cooper E: michaelcooper.wine@outlook.com Administration Lyn Hannam E: administration@winestate.com.au Graphic Designer Nao
Winestate Magazine4 min read
Editorial
2020. THIS WAS THE YEAR THAT KEPT ON TAKING AWAY. Without repeating all the depressing developments that occurred throughout the year let’s look at what is positive and what we have to look forward to in 2021. For Winestate we are pleased to report t
Winestate Magazine15 min read
Briefs
JEFF Burch of Howard Park in Margaret River is the new chairperson of Australia’s First Families of Wine (AFFW), a collective of Australia’s leading family owned, multigenerational wine businesses. Burch takes over from Stephen Henschke, becoming the
Winestate Magazine4 min read
Nzbriefs
HAWKE’S Bay winery Elephant Hill’s restaurant was an early casualty of the changes wrought on wine tourism courtesy of Covid-19, closing due to ensuing loss of international visitors. However, the award-winning Te Awanga-based winery has regrouped an
Winestate Magazine4 min read
Prosecco Takes On A Rosey Glow
THE mainly sparkling wine Prosecco (a still version is also allowed) has been on the up and up since it revamped, expanded its production zone, and achieved greater legal protection for the appellation (Europe’s more-regulated equivalent of Australia
Winestate Magazine4 min read
Chardonnay Roots Discovered
THE Australian Wine Research Institute (AWRI) issued a press release in August 2020 announcing one of the oldest mysteries in Australian wine history had been solved. The origins of the Gin-Gin clone of chardonnay was revealed. Using genomic research
Winestate Magazine4 min read
Among The Vines - Wine Stays Close To Home
FEW things ramp up the depth of feeling aroused by the word terroir than a weekend stay close to the vines that produced the wine you are drinking. Wine hotels and retreats have become popular in just about every wine-producing country in the world f
Winestate Magazine4 min read
A Year Of Heat, Drought And Fire
LARGE swathes of Australia were held to ransom by heat, drought and bushfires throughout last summer, and wine producers were certainly not exempt. Grape yields were driven down by the paucity of rainfall in wine regions across the country, while fla
Winestate Magazine4 min read
New Wine Producer Makes An Impact
FOR a producer that only released its first wines three years ago, Mapleton Vineyards in Tasmania’s Coal River Valley is rapidly building an impressive reputation. With gold medals from the Tasmanian Wine Show followed by national recognition from Wi
Winestate Magazine4 min read
Not One To Mince Wine Or Words
KEVIN Judd may be a man of few words, but he’s certainly one of many talents. Having established his winemaking bona fides as Cloudy Bay’s founding winemaker, a position he held for 25 years, Kevin and his wife Kimberley founded their own label Greyw
Winestate Magazine4 min read
Gapsted: A Quarter Of A Century On
IT’S a classic road trip, but it’s hard to imagine when driving the Great Alpine Road that the scenery used to look remarkably different in the shadows of the Victorian Alps. Once a picture of hard work on post-war tobacco fields, it’s now a bustling
Winestate Magazine4 min read
Risk Reaps Rewards
WHEN Darren Scott and his wife Tracey bought the RidgeView property in the Hunter Valley for a cellar door back in 2000, they knew they were taking a risk. Located on 100 acres at the end of Sweetwater Road at Belford, it’s hardly Pokolbin Central. T
Winestate Magazine4 min read
Journey From The Old Country To The New
HIGHLAND Heritage Estate, top five recipient for the Winestate Riesling of the Year in this year’s awards, is located in the State’s fast growing premium cool climate wine region of Orange. Its vineyards, cellar door, restaurant and function centre a
Winestate Magazine6 min read
WINE OF THE YEAR Special Awards Feature 2020
BEST OF THE BEST EACH year Winestate gathers together those wines that throughout the year have achieved a five star (gold standard) or 4 ½ stars (high silver standard) to come up with a Top 5 list across fifteen categories and ultimately a winner fo
Winestate Magazine5 min read
Hitting The Right Notes
YOU may have noticed the winner of this year’s Wine of the Year and Cabernet of the Year category was actually a blend of cabernet and shiraz; surprising? Not really, it isn’t the first time a blend has won this particular class - both the 2017 and 2
Winestate Magazine3 min read
Winning Family Recipe
FIVE times over the past decade – that’s how frequently Saint Clair, one of Marlborough’s largest family-owned producers, has won Winestate’s New Zealand Wine Company of the Year award. Underlining just how superbly the company has performed in our t
Winestate Magazine3 min read
When You’re On A Good Thing…
CHRIS Scott must be a familiar face to many Winestate readers, having scooped our New Zealand Winemaker of the Year award an impressive three times – in 2013, 2016 and now 2020. Head of the winemaking team at the historic Church Road winery, in Hawke
Winestate Magazine4 min read
A Stellar Success Story
IF quality and consistency is what makes a wine company successful, then Australian Vintage seems to have that comfortably bottled up with an outstanding number of 5-star wines making it Australia’s Wine Company of the Year – for the second year runn
Winestate Magazine3 min read
Triple Threat
SHANE Harris started working as winemaker with vigneron Geoff Hardy 11 years ago in 2009. Just three years later, when he was aged 34, he was named Winestate’s Australian Winemaker of the Year, a feat that he repeated in 2018. He’s now won it for the
Winestate Magazine2 min read
SPARKLING Of The Year
THE ORORA GLASS TROPHY Hollydene Estate JUUL Mornington Peninsula Sparkling Blanc de Blancs 2008 Kilchurn Wines on behalf of Hollydene Estate Wines. Long lean and dry with a nice balance of acid. Aromas of lemon & apples and smells of the bakery. The
Winestate Magazine2 min read
ALTERNATIVE WHITE Of The Year
THE MILLÉSIME BIO TROPHY Lawson's Dry Hills Marlborough Gewurztraminer 2018 Marcus Wright This is gewurztraminer personified with wonderfully lifted florals and pronounced notes of lychee and citrus. The wine has a soft and rounded texture with a wei
Winestate Magazine2 min read
RIESLING Of The Year
THE LE CORDON BLEU TROPHY Boston Bay Wines Eyre Peninsula Riesling 2019 David O’Leary and Nick Walker Powerful perfumed palate, showing spicy citrus flavours with floral undertones and plenty of steely acid layered with Boston Bay’s trademark mineral
Winestate Magazine3 min read
SAUVIGNON BLANC Of The Year
THE DAI PRINT TROPHY Invivo Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2020 Rob Cameron Intense, bold guava and florals on the nose with a lime edged citrus vein running between them. The 2020 Invivo sauvignon blanc is hallmarked by a fine interweaving of herbal mi
Winestate Magazine2 min read
PINOT GRIS/GRIGIO Of The Year
THE KEWCO TROPHY Loveblock (BioGro NZ) Marlborough Pinot Gris 2019 Kim Crawford Pale with golden touches. Elegant aromas of rockmelon yield to layers of chamomile and citrus. Beautiful prosciutto-wrapped melon, Nashi pear and fruit notes are undersco
Winestate Magazine2 min read
SEMILLON Of The Year
THE LUIGI BORMIOLI TROPHY Coolangatta Estate Shoalhaven Coast Semillon 2009 Andrew Spinaze Gold in colour with a touch of green with lifted floral and mineral aromas. A big soft citrus palate with classic developed semillon characters beginning to sh
Winestate Magazine2 min read
CHARDONNAY Of The Year
THE CLASSIC OAK TROPHY Vidal Legacy Hawke's Bay Chardonnay 2019 Hugh Crichton Pale straw. Citrus and grapefruit with roasted nuts and a flinty minerality. Textured palate with good fruit concentration. Fresh line of acid runs seamlessly on the palate
Winestate Magazine2 min read
ROSÉ Of The Year
THE NATIONAL WINE CENTRE TROPHY Mapleton Vineyards Tasmania Pinot Noir Rosé 2020 Liam McElhinney Colour of bright salmon. Bouquet of textured strawberries and lifted floral notes. The palate a dry, silken texture with vibrant strawberry, citrus bloss
Winestate Magazine2 min read
ALTERNATIVE RED Of The Year
THE SMEG TROPHY Mount Avoca Estate (ACO) Pyrenees Lagrein 2018 David Darlow Dark ruby red of good intensity with soft opaque purple on the rim. Clean pronounced aromas of blackberry, violets and coffee bean with subtle dark toasty nutmeg and pencil s
Winestate Magazine3 min read
PINOT NOIR Of The Year
THE INTERPACK TROPHY Coal Pit Tiwha Central Otago Pinot Noir 2018 Anika Willner Deep red in colour with a purple hue. An extremely approachable wine from the outset showing a perfumed nose with crushed rose petal and lavender, Damson plums and brambl
Winestate Magazine2 min read
MERLOT Of The Year
THE NORTHLINE TROPHY Rymill Coonawarra MC2 Coonawarra Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc 2019 Shannon Sutherland, Lewis White Garnet red in colour. Complex aromas of blackcurrant, black cherries, cedar box notes and hints of nutmeg. Cabernet Sa
Winestate Magazine2 min read
GRENACHE Of The Year
Cat Amongst The Pigeons Fat Cat Barossa Valley Grenache 2019 Richard Quodling Ruby garnet in colour. Lifted raspberry and spice aromatics. Bright, juicy raspberry and strawberry fruit with toasty oak and red cherry notes. Intense and concentrated wit
Winestate Magazine3 min read
CABERNET SAUVIGNON Of The Year
THE HAMBURG SÜD TROPHY The Musician by Majella Coonawarra Cabernet Shiraz 2018 Bruce Gregory & Michael Marcus The 2018 Musician has a vibrant colour with a bright ruby hue. Fresh mint, eucalyptus and spice make up the lifted nose. The palate is soft
Winestate Magazine2 min read
SHIRAZ/SYRAH Of The Year
THE WINE WORKS TROPHY Mount Avoca Estate Organic Pyrenees Shiraz 2019 David Darlow Dark plum red of good intensity with a defined purple on the rim and swirl. Clean pronounced aromas of spicy blackberry and prune fruits with underlying sweet black pe
Winestate Magazine2 min read
SWEET WHITE Of The Year
THE WILLIAM ANGLISS TROPHY De Bortoli Deen De Bortoli Riverina Botrytis Semillon 2017 John Coughlan & Julie Mortlock Layers of nectarines, quinces, citrus flavours with a subtle hint of nougat nuttiness. Subtle oak interplay adds to the texture and a
Winestate Magazine2 min read
FORTIFIED Of The Year
THE DW FOX TUCKER LAWYERS TROPHY Saddler's Creek Rutherglen VIC & Riverina NSW Rare Muscat NV Brett Woodward Deep tawny brown in colour. This rare muscat displays intense aromas of butterscotch, fruitcake and caramel, supported by a lush palate of ra
Winestate Magazine1 min read
Under $20
THE HARVEY NORMAN TROPHY Dee Vine Estate The Drover SEA Pinot Grigio 2020 $5.99 Danny Toaldo, Moreno Chiappin Light straw in colour. Aromas of pear and green apple and the palate is fresh with crisp zippy acidity. Seafood and soft cheeses. 2022. Grow
Winestate Magazine2 min read
Best Value Buys
Aromas of Nashi pears and citrus with similar characters echoed on the acid driven palate. Has nice floral elements. $18.99 Three Kings Wine Merchants Phone: 0401 060 574 Email: david@threekingswinemerchants.com.au Web: www.threekingswinemerchants.co
Winestate Magazine29 min read
Styles
CONTENTS Includes: Sparkling/Champagne, Pinot Gris/Grigio, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Chardonnay, Other White Varietals & Blends, Rosé, Other Red Varietals & Blends, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz/Syrah, Brandy, Cognac & Arm
Winestate Magazine11 min read
Best Of New Releases
CONTENTS Includes: Sparkling, Other White Varietals & Blends, Sauvignon Blanc & Blends, Riesling & Blends, Semillon & Blends, Pinot Gris/Grigio, Chardonnay & Blends, Rosé, Other Red Varietals & Blends, Pinot Noir, Merlot & Blends, Grenache & Blends,
Winestate Magazine17 min read
South Australia
CONTENTS Includes: Sparkling, Pinot Gris/Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Other White Varietals & Blends, Gruner Veltliner, Riesling, Semillon, Chardonnay, Rosé, Other Red Varietals & Blends, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Tempranillo, Grenache & Blends, Cabernet Sauvi
Winestate Magazine10 min read
Victoria & Tasmania
CONTENTS Includes: Sparkling, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Riesling, Other White Varietals & Blends, Rosé, Pinot Noir, Other Red Varietals & Blends, Cabernet Sauvignon & Blends, Shiraz & Blends, Sweet Whites & Fortifieds. WHAT was supposed to be a special
Winestate Magazine9 min read
New South Wales
CONTENTS Includes: Sparkling, Pinot Gris/Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc & Blends, Riesling, Semillon & Blends, Chardonnay & Blends, Other White Varietals & Blends, Rosé, Pinot Noir, Other Red Varietals & Blends, Cabernet Sauvignon & Blends, Cabernet Franc,
Winestate Magazine8 min read
Western Australia
CONTENTS Includes: Riesling, Other White Varietals & Blends, Sauvignon Blanc & Blends, Semillon & Blends, Chardonnay, Rosé, Other Red Varietals & Blends, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Blends, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz & Blends, Sweet White & Fortifie
Winestate Magazine12 min read
New Zealand
CONTENTS Includes: Sparkling, Sauvignon Blanc & Blends, Riesling, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Gewurtztraminer, Other White Varietals & Blends, Rosé, Pinot Noir, Merlot & Blends, Cabernet Sauvignon & Blends, Other Red Varietals & Blends, Syrah, Sweet Whit
Winestate Magazine5 min read
Best Of NZ Recent Releases
CONTENTS Includes: A selection of 4, 4.5 & 5 star reviews from Michael Cooper's Recent Releases in 2020. Saint Clair Omaka Reserve Marlborough Pinot Noir 2019 ★★★★★ The Landing Bay of Islands Chardonnay 2019 ★★★★★ Wild Earth Earth and Sky Central Ota
Winestate Magazine4 min read
Moving Forward - Premiumisation, Predictions And Pragmatism
IF there's an "industry" that thrived during the Covid-19 pandemic, it was the prediction and speculation business. “May, might and could,” became almost constant inclusions in headlines. So, it was heartening to see some concrete data from Roy Morga

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