Winewise Championship 2010

THE WINEWISE CHAMPIONSHIP 2010 RESULTS

"A solution might be a more structured show system that streams winners from regional shows to state shows to a truly national show." Chris Shanahan

The Winewise Championship is an exciting new initiative, designed to showcase the benchmark wines of Australia, from producers large and small.

All eligible wines were judged on 11 and 12 February in Canberra. The wines were assessed in small groups of no more than seven and ranked in order of preference by the judging panel comprised of four of the regular Winewise panel and experienced show judges – Lester Jesberg, Debbie Pearce, Len Sorbello and Phil Trickett – and two of the most respected senior judges from within the wine industry – Tom Carson (Chairman of the National Wine Show) and Tim Kirk (Winemaker Clonakilla). The winning wines will each be awarded a gold-plated 63 cm Medallion, specially struck by the Royal Australian Mint (as illustrated above).

The best wines from the following Australian wine shows during the period February 2009 - January 2010 were invited to participate in the inaugural Winewise Championship:

National Wine Show of Australia
Winewise Small Vigneron Awards
Adelaide Hills Wine Show
Australian Alternative Varieties Wine Show
Barossa Wine Show
Canberra Regional Wine Show
Clare Valley Wine Show
Hunter Valley Wine Show
International Sweet White Challenge
Limestone Coast Wine Show
McLaren Vale Wine Show
Mudgee Wine Show
National Cool Climate Wine Show
New England Wine Show (Incl. Granite Belt, Qld.)
Orange Region Wine Show
Tasmanian Wine Show
Victorian Wines Show
Wine Show of Western Australia

Judges Len Sorbello & Deb Pearce

Judges Tim Kirk & Phil Trickett

To add balance, the Championship Chair, Lester Jesberg, invited some 'wildcard' entries from producers who don't normally enter wine shows but whose wines were previously judged under show conditions. This was an important criteria for the Championship - only wines judged in competitive 'blind' tastings would be eligible.

Lester Jesberg: “Winewise Magazine has taken a big step and no doubt we will learn a lot from our first attempt but we feel that someone had to bite the bullet and cover the gap in our existing national show system.” Chris Shanahan summed it up well in his recent article “National Show shouldn’t ignore gaps in its ranks”, see: http://chrisshanahan.com/articles/2009/national-show-shouldnt-ignore-gaps-in-its-ranks/

Full details of the Winewise Championship and descriptions of the all the wines entered in the competition are published in the April 2010 issue of Winewise Magazine: Subscribe Now

OVERALL WINNERS

Champion Dry White: 2007 Penfolds Reserve Bin 07A Adelaide Hills Chardonnay
Champion Dry Red: 2008 Paringa Estate Pinot Noir (Mornington Peninsula, Vic)
Champion Varietal Red: 2008 Paringa Estate Pinot Noir (Mornington Peninsula, Vic)
Champion Red Blend: 2008 Water Wheel Memsie Homestead Red (Bendigo, Vic)
Champion Sweet White: 2006 Brown Brothers Patricia Noble Riesling (Milawa, Vic)
Champion Sparkling White or Rosé: 2003 House of Arras Grand Vintage (Tasmania)
Champion Sparkling Red: 2004 Blue Pyrenees Estate Sparkling Shiraz

Medallion Winners (for individual varieties or styles)

Riesling Medallion: 2004 Peter Lehmann Wigan Eden Valley Riesling
Semillon Medallion: 2005 Tyrrell's Vat 1 Hunter Semillon
Sauvignon Blanc Medallion: 2009 Printhie Orange Sauvignon Blanc
Sauvignon Blanc Blend Medallion: 2009 Edwards Margaret River Semillon Sauvignon Blanc
Chardonnay Medallion: 2007 Penfolds Reserve Bin 07A Adelaide Hills Chardonnay
Viognier Medallion: 2008 Heafod Glen Swan Valley Viognier
Other Varietal Dry White Medallion: 2009 Beach Road Fiano (Langhorne Creek, SA)
Pinot Noir Medallion: 2008 Paringa Estate Pinot Noir (Mornington Peninsula, Vic)
Shiraz Medallion: 2006 McIvor Estate Heathcote Shiraz
Cabernet Sauvignon Medallion: 2007 Xanadu Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon
Merlot or Cabernet Franc Medallion: 2008 Nannup Ridge Estate Merlot (Blackwood Valley, WA)
Grenache or Grenache Blend Medallion: 2008 DogRock Degraves Road (Pyrenees, Vic)
Italian Variety Medallion: 2007 Karanto Langhorne Creek Aglianico
Other Varietal Red Medallion: 2008 Brown Brothers Cellar Door Release Graciano (Milawa, Vic)
‘Bordeaux Blend’ Medallion: 2007 Capercaillie The Clan (Multi-Regional)
Classic Australian Blend Medallion: 2006 Wynns Coonawarra The Gables Cabernet Shiraz
Other Reds Blend Medallion: 2008 Water Wheel Memsie Homestead Red (Bendigo, Vic)

DETAILED CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS

The following list sets out the wines tasted and the judges' order of preference in each varietal category. However, it is important to note that the listing makes no implications as to the quality of the wines - all the wines are of Gold Medal standard in their own right. This was a competition amongst peers.

[M] below indicates the Medallion winning wine. For a complete list of Medallion winners: click here

1. 2009 RIESLING 2009 Crabtree Watervale Hilltop Riesling 2009 Heggies Vineyard Riesling 2009 Mesh Eden Valley Riesling 2009 Penfolds Koonunga Hill Autumn Riesling 2009 Gallagher Wines Riesling 2009 Robert Stein Riesling 2009 Knappstein Enterprise Winery Hand Picked Riesling	2. 2008 RIESLING 2008 Zarephath Riesling 2008 Leasingham Bin 7 Clare Valley Riesling 2008 Bay of Fires Riesling 2008 Robert Stein Riesling 2008 Crabtree Watervale Riesling 2008 Eden Springs Riesling
3. OLDER RIESLING 2004 Peter Lehmann Wigan Riesling [M] 2006 Peter Lehmann Wigan Riesling 2005 Tertini Riesling 2005 Leasingham Classic Clare Riesling 2005 O'Leary Walker Watervale Riesling	4. & 5. 2008 & 2009 SEMILLON 2009 Pooles Rock Semillon 2009 Peppertree Alluvius Semillon 2009 First Creek Winemaker's Reserve Semillon 2008 Thomas Braemore Semillon 2009 Thomas Braemore Semillon 2009 Thomas Cellar Reserve Semillon
6A. OLDER SEMILLON - Group 1 2005 Tyrrell's Belford Semillon 2004 Meerea Park Alexander Munro Semillon 2006 Peter Lehmann Wines Margaret Semillon 2004 O'Leary Walker Clare Valley Semillon	6B. OLDER SEMILLON - Group 2 2005 Tyrrell's Vat 1 Semillon [M] 2004 Tyrrell's Belford Semillon 2003 McWilliam's Lovedale Semillon
7. SAUVIGNON BLANC MEDALLION 2009 Printhie Orange Sauvignon Blanc [M] 2009 Watershed Wines Sauvignon Blanc 2008 Oakridge Fumé Blanc 2009 Montgomery's Hill Sauvignon Blanc 2008 Centennial Woodside Sauvignon Blanc 2009 Mayfield Vineyard Icely Road Sauvignon Blanc	8. SAUVIGNON BLANC BLEND MEDALLION 2009 Edwards Semillon Sauvignon Blanc [M] 2009 Catching Thieves Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2008 Bellbrae Estate Longboard Semillon Sauvignon Blanc
9A. 2008 CHARDONNAY - Group 1 2008 Seville Estate Chardonnay 2008 McWilliams Barwang 842 Tumbarumba Chardonnay 2008 Penfolds Reserve Bin 08A Chardonnay 2008 Brookland Valley Chardonnay 2008 Pike & Joyce Adelaide Hills Chardonnay	9B. 2008 CHARDONNAY - Group 2 2008 Logan Orange Chardonnay 2008 Punters Corner Chardonnay 2008 Giant Steps Arthurs Creek Chardonnay 2008 Peppertree Venus Block Orange Chardonnay
10. 2007 CHARDONNAY 2007 Penfolds Reserve Bin 07A Chardonnay [M] 2007 Wolf Blass White Label Chardonnay 2007 Yalumba Heggies Vineyard Chardonnay 2007 Redgate Margaret River Chardonnay 2007 Brokenwood Forest Edge Vineyard Orange Chardonnay 2007 Giant Steps Sexton Vineyard Chardonnay 2007 Derwent Estate Chardonnay	11. OLDER CHARDONNAY 2006 Penfolds Reserve Bin 06A Chardonnay 2006 Coldstream Hills Reserve Chardonnay 2006 Wolf Blass Gold Label Chardonnay 2006 McWilliams Barwang 842 Tumbarumba Chardonnay
12. VIOGNIER MEDALLION 2008 Heafod Glen Swan Valley Viognier [M] 2008 Vincognita Madeleines Nangkita Viognier 2008 Yalumba Virgilius Viognier 2008 Winbirra Le Maréchal Viognier 2007 Mulyan Cowra Viognier	13. OTHER DRY WHITES MEDALLION 2009 Beach Road Fiano [M] 2009 Peppertree Wines Verdelho 2009 Witchmount Pinot Gris 2009 Dowie Doole Chenin Blanc
14A. SPARKLING WHITE OR ROSÉ - Group 1 NV Centennial Vineyards Pinot Chardonnay 2001 Mount William Macedon Blanc de Blanc 2000 Radenti 2004 O'Leary Walker Hurtle Chardonnay 1998 Beckingham Wines Pas de Deux	14B. SPARKLING WHITE OR ROSÉ - Group 2 2003 House of Arras Grand Vintage [M] NV Brown Brothers Pinot Noir Chardonnay Pinot Meunier 2003 Mount William Jorja-Alexis Pinot Noir Rosé 2006 Jansz Vintage Rosé
15. SPARKLING RED MEDALLION 2004 Blue Pyrenees Estate Sparkling Shiraz [M] 2004 Grampians Estate Rutherford Sparkling Shiraz	16. SWEET WHITE MEDALLION 2006 Brown Brothers Patricia Noble Riesling [M] 2006 Deen De Bortoli Vat 5 Botrytis Semillon 2007 Heggies Vineyard Botrytis Riesling 2008 Delatite Late Harvest Riesling 2007 De Bortoli Noble One 2008 Lerida Estate Botrytis Pinot Gris
17. 2008 PINOT NOIR 2008 Paringa Estate Pinot Noir [M] 2008 Tomboy Hill Ava's Picking Pinot Noir 2008 Montalto Vineyards Pinot Noir 2008 Yabby Lake Pinot Noir 2008 Home Hill Wines Pinot Noir 2008 Yellow Point Vineyard Bloody 11th Pinot Noir	18. & 19. OLDER PINOT NOIR 2007 Yabby Lake Pinot Noir 2007 Paringa Estate Pinot Noir 2007 Honey Moon Vineyard Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir 2006 Barringwood Park Mill Block Pinot Noir 2007 Freycinet Pinot Noir 2007 Freycinet Louis Pinot Noir 2005 Hoeyfield Vineyard Pinot Noir
20. 2008 SHIRAZ 2008 Leasingham Provis Clare Valley Shiraz 2008 Eden Road The Long Road Shiraz 2008 Wolf Blass Yellow Label Shiraz Viognier 2008 Starvedog Lane Adelaide Hills Shiraz Viognier 2008 Kellermeister Black Sash Shiraz 2008 Richard Hamilton Shiraz 2008 Goona Warra Shiraz	21. 2007 SHIRAZ 2007 Ravensworth Shiraz Viognier 2007 Honey Moon Vineyard Adelaide Hills Shiraz 2007 Tyrrell's Stevens Shiraz 2007 Cellarmaster Dorrien Estate Bin 1 Shiraz 2007 Paringa Estate Reserve Shiraz 2007 Lerida Estate Lake George Shiraz Viognier
22A. OLDER SHIRAZ - Group 1 2006 McIvor Estate Heathcote Shiraz [M] 2006 Mount Langi Ghiran Langi Shiraz 2006 Chalkers Crossing Hilltops Shiraz 2004 Hardys Eileen Hardy Shiraz 2006 Tyrrell's Vat 8 Shiraz	22B. OLDER SHIRAZ - Group 2 2006 Shaw & Smith Adelaide Hills Shiraz 2006 Blue Pyrenees Estate Reserve Shiraz 2006 De Iuliis Wines Limited Release Shiraz 2006 Balnaves of Coonawarra Shiraz
23. & 24. 2007 & 2008 CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2007 Xanadu Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon [M] 2008 Rosemount Estate Show Reserve Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 Mildara Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 Zappa Wines Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 Thomas New England Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 Ringbolt Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 Higher Plane Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon	25A. OLDER CABERNET SAUVIGNON - Group 1 2006 Brown Brothers Patricia Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 Xanadu Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 Annie's Lane Coppertrail Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 Philip Shaw No.5 Cabernet Sauvignon
25B. OLDER CABERNET SAUVIGNON - Group 2 2006 Reynella Basket Pressed Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 Sinclair Wines Giovanni Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon 2001 Balnaves The Tally Coonawarra Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 Cellarmaster Wines Krondorf Symmetry Cabernet Sauvignon	26. MERLOT OR CABERNET FRANC MEDALLION 2008 Ray Fitzgerald Nannup Ridge Estate Merlot [M] 2007 Howard Vineyard Amos Cabernet Franc 2006 Smith & Hooper Reserve Merlot
27. GRENACHE/GRENACHE BLENDS REDS MEDALLION 2008 Dog Rock Degraves Road [M] 2007 B3 Grenache Shiraz Mourvèdre 2007 Tintara McLaren Vale Grenache	28. ITALIAN RED VARIETIES MEDALLION 2007 Karanto Langhorne Creek Aglianico [M] 2007 Grove Estate Sommita Nebbiolo 2008 Pankhurst Sangiovese
29. OTHER RED VARIETIES MEDALLION 2008 Brown Brothers Cellar Door Release Graciano [M] 2008 Nepenthe Tempranillo 2008 Running With Bulls Tempranillo 2006 Sanguine Estate Tempranillo 2007 Belebula Tempranillo 2007 Hewitson Old Garden Mourvèdre	30. BORDEAUX BLENDS MEDALLION 2007 Capercaillie The Clan [M] 2007 Evans & Tate Margaret River Cabernet Merlot 2008 Catching Thieves Cabernet Merlot 2006 Philip Shaw No.17 Merlot Cabernet Franc Cabernet 2008 Sharpe Wines Of Orange Gentlemans Claret 2008 Tallagandra Hill Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc
31. CLASSIC BLENDS MEDALLION 2006 Wynns The Gables Cabernet Shiraz [M] 2008 Majella The Musician 2007 Harewood Estate Shiraz Cabernet	32. OTHER RED BLENDS MEDALLION 2008 Water Wheel Memsie Homestead Red [M] 2008 Mount Majura TSG (Tempranillo/Shiraz/Graciano)
Note: The following wines were the subject of invitations to enter the Championship - some producers declined to enter (and Winewise fully respects their decision) while other entries were not received or arrived too late:
2009 Ashton Hills Riesling 2009 Bellarmine Dry Riesling 2008 Helm Premium Riesling 2009 Pressing Matters Riesling 2009 Mitchelton Blackwood Park Riesling 2009 Moores Hill Riesling 2003 Cardinham Estate Riesling 2007 Chartley Estate Riesling 2008 Hungerford Hill Wines Semillon 2001 Audrey Wilkinson Reserve Semillon 2006 Coolangatta Estate Semillon 2008 Alan & Veitch Adelaide Hills Sauvignon Blanc 2009 Hamelin Bay Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2008 Winburndale Alluvial Chardonnay 2008 Velo Chardonnay 2007 Long Gully Estate Chardonnay 2006 Maritime Estate Chardonnay 2008 Dal Zotto Arneis 2008 Yarraloch Arneis 2009 Brook Eden Waters Edge TRS Riesling 2008 Ashton Hills Pinot Noir Reserve 2008 Castle Rock Pinot Noir	2008 Ambar Hill Shiraz 2008 Bird In Hand Two In The Bush 2008 Blue Wren Mudgee 2008 Charles Cimicky Reserve Shiraz 2008 Old Orchard Wines Shiraz 2008 Sandalford Margaret River Shiraz 2007 Chalk Hill McLaren Vale Shiraz 2007 Pyramids Road Shiraz 2007 Cape Mentelle Margaret River Shiraz 2006 Sons Of Eden Remus Shiraz 2004 Westgate Vineyard Endurance Shiraz 2008 Punt Road Cabernet 2008 Queens Pinch Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 Penna Lane Clare Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 Flametree Margaret River Cabernet Merlot 2006 Warrenmang Bazzani Shiraz Cabernet 2005 Barratt Piccadilly Valley Merlot 2006 Murray Street Grenache Rare 2008 Vinrock Grenache 2007 Sons of Eden Kennedy GSM 2008 Gemtree Vineyards La Luna Tempranillo 2007 Hidden Creek Tempranillo

Last Updated: 17-May-2010