Penny’s Hill winemakers Alexia Roberts and Paul Carpenter have been crowned 2024 McLaren Vale Bushing Monarchs after Penny’s Hill 2023 Single Vineyard Grenache was named McLaren Vale’s Best Wine of Show.
Chair of judges Andrew Thomas praised the winemaking skill and vineyard selection of the Penny’s Hill 2023 Single Vineyard Grenache.
“This wine stood out like a beacon within its class, and to ultimately be chosen as the Best Wine of the Show is testament to both detailed winemaking and a pedigree vineyard site,” he said.
“The wine displayed impressively vibrant red cherry fruit, delicate florals and a subtle whole bunch complexity, together with a sweet fruited yet savoury texture, crunchy acidity and chalky tannin structure.
“This is benchmark Grenache indeed.”
Thomas said that as you would expect from the region, red wines dominated the 730 entries.
“However it is very pleasing indeed to see some increased focus and attention to detail in the white wine category over the last few years,” he said.
“Fiano has certainly emerged as the leading variety, but we also saw some beautifully crafted wines from Chenin Blanc, Vermentino and Grenache Gris from the 2024 vintage.”
In terms of red wines, Andrew said the stylistic evolution of winemaking was again on full display across both the more traditional varieties as well as the emerging varietals and blends.
“The more contemporary styles we are seeing are ripe without being heavy, and have an aromatic vibrancy, vitality and bright acidity without sacrificing the fleshy texture for which the region is so famous,” he said.
“The cooler, longer growing season of the 2023 vintage has produced some absolutely compelling, tightly structured red wines in this modern regional style that have particularly impressed the judges.”
McLaren Vale Grape Wine & Tourism Association CEO Erin Leggat said the Best Wine of Show was a fantastic example of how the region’s varietal and stylistic diversity continues to develop.
“McLaren Vale’s reputation as a global leader for Grenache and a hub for Australia’s most exciting wine varieties and styles continues to soar, and this year’s Best Wine of Show is a shining example of the creativity, precision and passion that defines our region,” she said.
“Crafted by an outstanding female winemaker, this Grenache not only showcases the elegance and depth achievable with this variety, but also reflects the innovation and mastery driving McLaren Vale’s global recognition.”
The international judge was Emma Jenkins MW from New Zealand. Panel chairs were Pip Anderson (Tolpuddle, Tasmania), Toby Barlow (TWE, South Australia) and Steven Paul (Oakdene, Victoria).
BEST WINE OF SHOW & BUSHING MONARCH
Penny’s Hill 2023 Single Vineyard Grenache
CHAIRPERSON’S TROPHY
Battle of Bosworth 2024 Puritan Preservative Free Shiraz
INTERNATIONAL JUDGE’S TROPHY
Serafino 2024 Bellissimo Fiano
WINE OF PROVENANCE
Hardys 2021, 2016, 2012 Eileen Hardy Shiraz
BEST MUSEUM WINE
Hardys 2018 Eileen Hardy Shiraz
BEST CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Reynella 2021 Basket Pressed Cabernet Sauvignon
BEST SHIRAZ
Chalk Hill Wines Alpha Crucis 2022 Clarendon Syrah
BEST GRENACHE
Penny’s Hill 2023 Single Vineyard Grenache
BEST SINGLE VINEYARD SHIRAZ
Chalk Hill Wines Alpha Crucis 2022 Clarendon Syrah
BEST SINGLE VINEYARD VITICULTURIST
Kingsley Fuller for Penny’s Hill
BEST SINGLE VINEYARD WINE ANY STYLE (OTHER THAN SHIRAZ)
Penny’s Hill 2023 Single Vineyard Grenache
BEST SMALL PRODUCER OF SHOW
Larnook Wines
MOST SUCCESSFUL EXHIBITOR
Chalk Hill Wines
BEST OTHER RED & BLENDS
St Hubert’s Wines 2023 Notes Touriga Tinta Cao
BEST THREE YEAR OR OLDER SHIRAZ
Brokenwood Wines 2021 Rayner Vineyard Shiraz
BEST MEDITERRANEAN RED VARIETY
Chalk Hill 2023 Small Batch Release Graciano
BEST TWO YEAR OR YOUNGER CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Battle of Bosworth 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon
BEST TWO YEAR OR OLDER GRENACHE
S.C. Pannell 2022 Old McDonald Grenache
BEST SHIRAZ PREDOMINANT BLEND
Chalk Hill 2023 Small Batch Release Shiraz Barbera
BEST GRENACHE PREDOMINANT BLEND
Wirra Wirra 2023 Original Blend Grenache Shiraz
BEST TWO YEAR OLD SHIRAZ
Chalk Hill Wines Alpha Crucis 2022 Clarendon Syrah
BEST ROSÉ
Chalk Hill 2024 Diana Mary Rosé
BEST ONE YEAR OLD OR YOUNGER SHIRAZ
Battle of Bosworth 2023 White Boar Shiraz
BEST ONE YEAR OLD GRENACHE
Penny’s Hill 2023 Single Vineyard Grenache
BEST TRADITIONAL WHITE WINE
Aphelion 2024 Pir Chenin Blanc
BEST FIANO
Oliver’s Taranga 2024 Fiano
BEST NEW AND EMERGING WHITE WINE
Larnook 2024 Grenache Gris
TROTT FAMILY AWARD
Derek Cameron and James Hook, DJ’s Growers
D’ARRY OSBORN AWARD
Bernard Smart, Smart Vineyard (posthumous)
Photograph: Ben Macmahon.
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