Cabernet and Chardonnay rise to the Challenge

Briar Ridge Block 7 Chardonnay 2023 from Orange and Forest Hill Vineyard Block 5 Cabernet Sauvignon 2023 from Great Southern were crowned the highest-pointed Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon in Australia at the 2024 James Halliday Australian Chardonnay and Cabernet Challenge.

Both wines rated 97 points from 622 entries across 37 Australian wine regions.

The Challenge is judged in alternate years between the Yarra Valley and Margaret River.

This year, the judging took place at McHenry Hohnen winery in Margaret River.

Continuing last year’s inaugural associate judge exchange between the Margaret River Wine Association and Wine Yarra Valley, this year Yarra Valley’s Anthony Fikkers from Joval and Brendan Hawker of Yering Station and Yarrabank were selected to join the Margaret River associate judges.

“One of the best features of the show is that it shines a light on all the places in Australia where these varieties are foundations of their regions. When the vintage clicks with that region the great wines really shine through,” chair of judges Adam Wadewitz says.

Forest Hill Vineyard Block 5 Cabernet from Great Southern wowed the judges for the second year in a row.

“It was a real stand-out for the whole team in the final taste-off and looked classic, and achieved a line of youthful, understated density combined with savoury structure,” Wadewitz says.

He says the final Chardonnay taste-off was close, highlighting the strength of the last few cool vintages.

Wadewitz says Briar Ridge Block 7 Chardonnay 2023 has “distinct character and managed the trifecta of flavour, acidity and complexity all packed into an energetic, charming framework”.

Margaret River Wine Association CEO Amanda Whiteland says, “Since the first James Halliday Challenge in 2012, there have been 21 James Halliday Challenge trophy-winning wines that have come from 11 different regions, highlighting the diversity of regions producing outstanding Chardonnay and Cabernet across Australia.”

A Best of Region Trophy is awarded to regional winners with scores of 95 points. This year, there were 13 Chardonnay regional winners and seven Cabernet regional winners.

James Halliday Australian Cabernet Challenge Regional Winners

Barossa Valley
Peter Lehmann Wines The Barossan Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 – 96 points

Clare Valley
Knappstein Wines Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 – 96 points

Coonawarra
Nightfall Wines Draco Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 – 95 points

Great Southern
Forest Hill Vineyard Block 5 Cabernet Sauvignon 2023 – 97 points

Margaret River
Xanadu Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 – 96 points

McLaren Vale
Chapel Hill The MV McLaren Vale Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 – 95 points

Yarra Valley
Giant Steps Sexton Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 – 96 points

Challenge patron James Halliday AM says, “Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon are an unlikely couple brought together because each is respected throughout the world of wine through the prism of fellow winemakers, of distributors and retailers, of collectors, of educators, and all those who simply enjoy a glass of great wine.”

Judges – Adam Wadewitz (chair), Adrian Sparks, Alister Timms, Gabrielle Poy, Glenn Barry, Livia Maiorana, Matt Buchan, Michael Downer, Ryan Aggiss and Severine Logan.

Associate Judges – Anthony Fikkers, Brendan Hawker, Camille Bru, Jarrad Olsen, Mark Bailey and Phil Hutchinson.

Previous James Halliday Australian Chardonnay Challenge Trophy Winners

2012 – Tasmania: Penfolds Yattarna Chardonnay 2008
2013 – Grampians: Seppelt Drumborg Chardonnay 2011
2014 – Margaret River: Deep Woods Estate Reserve Chardonnay 2013
2015 – Hunter Valley: Silkman Reserve Chardonnay 2014
2016 – Adelaide Hills: Penfolds Bin A Chardonnay 2015
2017 – Margaret River: Amelia Park Reserve Chardonnay 2016
2018 – Yarra Valley: A. Rodda Wines Willow Lake Vineyard Chardonnay 2017
2019 – Yarra Valley: Oakridge 864 Funder and Diamond Chardonnay 2017
2020 – No James Halliday Australian Chardonnay Challenge held
2021 – Mornington Peninsula: Montalto Single Vineyard “Tuerong Block” Chardonnay 2019
2022 – Adelaide Hills: Penfolds Wines Reserve Bin A Chardonnay 2020
2023 – Margaret River: Evans & Tate Redbrook Estate Chardonnay 2021

Previous James Halliday Australian Cabernet Challenge Trophy Winners

2016 – Hilltops: McWilliam’s Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
2017 – Margaret River: Mandoon Estate Research Station Reserve Cabernet 2014
2018 – Margaret River: Nocturne Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
2019 – Margaret River: Ringbolt Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
2020 – Margaret River: Xanadu Cabernet Sauvignon 2018
2021 – Coonawarra: Yalumba The Menzies Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
2022 – Margaret River: Forester Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2020
2023 – Great Southern: Forest Hill Vineyard Block 5 Cabernet Sauvignon 2022