Pike & Joyce Wines 2016 Kay Reserve Chardonnay won the Wine of Show at the 2017 Adelaide Hills Saint Martin Wine Show as Hills chardonnay continues to impress some of Australia’s best judges.
Chairman of judges Nick Stock said Pike & Joyce Wines 2016 Kay Reserve Chardonnay was a stand-out in its class, winning Best Chardonnay of the Show, Best Single Vineyard Award, and the Wine of Show.
“The region has established itself as a reference point for high quality chardonnay with cutting edge style and this year’s record number of entries delivered the ultimate quality across a very diverse range of styles and across multiple vintages,” Nick said.
“Many Australian regions have mastered the dark art of chardonnay winemaking but the Adelaide Hills sets itself apart in terms of combining power, elegance and complexity. The 2016 Pike & Joyce Kay Reserve leads with powerful fruit backed by intelligent winemaking that’s all underwritten by knife-edge refreshment.”
Pike and Joyce was established in 1998 by the Joyce family, fifth generation horticulturists, and long-established viticulturists and winemakers Andrew and Neil Pike.
Pike and Joyce were also awarded Best Sauvignon Blanc of the Show for their Pike & Joyce Wines 2017 Descente Sauvignon Blanc.
With red wines reigning supreme last year, the judges were again impressed by the quality of reds coming out of the cool climate region and the diversity of red wine styles impressed the judges. In the two largest red wine classes, New Era Vineyards was awarded Best Shiraz of Show for their 2016 Barrel Select Shiraz, and BK Wines 2016 Gower Pinot Noir took home the Best Pinot Noir of the Show.
“The pinot noirs were stronger than they’ve ever been this year with producers honing in on delivering wines with more personality and definition than ever before,” Nick said.
“Seeing BK Wines, one of the region’s most energetic new generation winemakers, win back-to-back trophies with their Gower Pinot Noir is a thrilling result, it’s an amazing achievement.”
“I also have to single out the trophy-winning 2017 Brackenwood Vineyards Gamay Pinot Noir as a wine that is a beacon for the region’s ability to make light, energetic, flavoursome and refreshing reds. Gamay is emerging as a red hot grape here and this wine was a huge hit with the judges.”
This year’s top-ranking sparkling wines also showed the diversity of the Adelaide Hills region, with the 2011 Deviation Road Beltana taking out a coveted trophy in the museum section of the show.
“The young sparkling wines we tasted were world class, with the powerful fruit character of the Adelaide Hills giving incredible structure and ageing potential to the wines. The trophy winner Somerled 2014 Methode Champenoise Pinot Noir was powerful, lively and exuberant,” Nick said.
“There are plenty of great whites, another stunning Arneis took out a trophy the 2017 Bird In Hand and the flavoursome appeal of the trophy-winning 2017 Wirra Wirra Lost Watch Riesling just shows the Hills is capable of delivering some of the most flavoursome whites in Australia, wines that people just love to drink.”
Larry Jacobs from Hahndorf Hill Winery won the Wine Committee Award while Artwine took out the Chanticleer Cup for the most welcoming cellar door.
The wine show attracted 646 wines from 97 exhibitors. The judges awarded 45 gold medals, 112 silver medals and 234 bronze medals.
Full list of trophies…
Wine of Show
Pike & Joyce 2016 Kay Reserve Chardonnay
Best Chardonnay
Pike & Joyce 2016 Kay Reserve Chardonnay
Best Single Vineyard Award
Pike & Joyce 2016 Kay Reserve Chardonnay
Best Sparkling
Somerled 2014 Methode Champenoise Pinot Noir
Best Riesling
Wirra Wirra Vineyards 2017 The Lost Watch Riesling
Best Sauvignon Blanc
Pike & Joyce 2017 Descente Sauvignon Blanc
Best Gruner Veltliner
Smidge Wines 2016 The GruVe Gruner Veltliner
Best Pinot Gris
Nepenthe 2017 Altitude Pinot Gris
Best White Other Classes
Bird in Hand 2017 Arneis
Best Rose
Howard Vineyard 2017 Clover Rose Cabernet Franc
Best Pinot Noir
BK Wines 2016 Gower Pinot Noir
Best Shiraz
New Era Vineyards 2016 Barrel Select Shiraz
Best Cabernet
Chain of Ponds 2016 Novello Cabernet Sauvignon
Best Red Other Classes
Brackenwood Vineyards 2017 Gamay, Pinot Noir
Best Sweet Wine
K1 by Geoff Hardy Autumn Harvest 2017 Riesling
Best Museum Wine
Deviation Road Wines 2011 Beltana Blanc de Blancs Chardonnay
Best Wine of Provenance
Honey Moon Vineyard 2015, 2012, 2007 Adelaide Hills Shiraz
Avant Garde Award
Vinteloper 2017 Park Wine White Gewürztraminer
Best Small Producer (under 100 tonnes)
Lobethal Road
Best Large producer (over 100 tonnes)
Shaw + Smith.
Wine Committee Award
Larry Jacobs, Hahndorf Hill
Chanticleer Cup
Artwine
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