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Grand old Langhorne Creek winery Bleasdale wins the Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy

By Friday 18 October 2019April 22nd, 2021No Comments

Bleasdale Vineyards 2018 The Wild Fig SGM has won the Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy for Best Young Red at the 2019 Royal Melbourne Wine Awards (RMWA).

The Wild Fig is a blend of Shiraz, Grenache and Mourvedre sourced from Langhorne. Creek and produced by Bleasdale winemaker Paul Hotker.

It is the first time a blend has won the trophy since 2008.

The Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy is awarded to the best one or two-year-old red wine and is named after the legendary Jimmy Watson who championed table wine at his Carlton wine bar.

Among the wineries taking home the top awards were Shaw + Smith, who were awarded the prestigious Francois De Castella trophy for Best Young White Wine for their 2018 vintage Shaw + Smith M3 Chardonnay.

Chardonnay continued to shine with Handpicked Wines awarded the Douglas Seabrook Trophy for Best Single Vineyard Wine, the Kym Ludvigsen Trophy for viticultural excellence and Best Chardonnay for their 2017 Capella Vineyard Chardonnay.

Conducted by The Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria (RASV) for over 135 years, the RMWA gives producers the opportunity to benchmark their wines against industry standards, seek advice from an independent panel of experts, and promote and market award winning products using the RMWA’s seal of excellence.

RASV CEO Paul Guerra says the Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria has been enabling the wine community to celebrate and showcase their passion for over 135 years.

“The Royal Melbourne Wine Awards provides highly valued recognition for the best Australian wines and wineries each year. The top three awards – Jimmy Watson, Francois De Castella and Trevor Mast – are some of the most respected winemaking awards in the country and are recognised both nationally and internationally,” Mr. Guerra said.

This year saw the introduction of the new innovative judging and awarding of Shiraz wines, the Best State Shiraz trophies. The winners of each state trophy were tasted off against each other to award the Trevor Mast Trophy for Best Shiraz. This year’s Trevor Mast Trophy was awarded to Western Australia based Frankland Estate Wines’ Isolation Ridge Vinyard Shiraz 2017 vintage.

The James Halliday Trophy for Best Pinot Noir went to a Tasmanian winery for the fifth consecutive year with Pressing Matters taking home the trophy for their 2017 Pinot Noir.

Reflecting on another big year for the RMWA and the incredible success of so many producers, Paul Guerra says the Awards are a wonderful way to recognise Australia’s leading wine producers.

“With more than 3,050 entries, the producers who took out this year’s major trophies, including Bleasdale Vineyards, Frankland Estate Wines, Shaw + Smith and more should be extremely proud of their achievements. The Royal Melbourne Wine Awards provide our winemakers with a unique and valuable platform to leverage their success locally and internationally through the Royal Melbourne Wine Awards seal of excellence”.

More than 3,050 wines were tasted over five days during October at Melbourne Showgrounds by a judging panel of 37 industry experts led by Head Judge and winemaker, Matt Harrop.

Discussing the 2019 judging process, Chair of Judges Matt Harrop was proud of the 2019 awards and thankful for the winemakers that support the magnificent event.

“In the Australian wine industry, the Royal Melbourne Wine Awards is the pinnacle event. The results of this year’s RMWA reflect the dedication, hard work and expertise of winegrowers across this great country,” stated Mr Harrop.

Full list of trophy winners:

The Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy For Best Young Red
Bleasdale Vineyards The Wild Fig SGM 2018

The Francois De Castella Trophy for Best Young White
Shaw + Smith M3 Chardonnay 2018

The Trevor Mast Trophy for Best Shiraz
Frankland Estate Wines Isolation Ridge Vineyard Shiraz 2017

The James Halliday Trophy for Best Pinot Noir
Pressing Matters 2017

The Douglas Seabrook Trophy for Best Single Vineyard Wine Presented By Seabrook Wines
Handpicked Wines Capella Vineyard Chardonnay 2017

The Bill Chambers Trophy for Best Fortified Wine
Morris Wines Old Premium Rare Muscat NV

The Kym Ludvigsen Trophy for Viticultural Excellence
Karl Roberts, Handpicked Wines, Capella Vineyard

The Victorian Trophy for Red Wines of Provenance
Paringa Estate Pinot Noir 2018, 2013 and 2008

The Victorian Trophy for White Wines of Provenance
Seppelt Drumborg Riesling 2019, 2011 and 2005

Best Semillon
Tyrrell’s Vineyards Belford Semillon 2014

Best Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Associated Varieties
Xanadu Wines Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

Best Chardonnay
Handpicked Wines Capella Vineyard Chardonnay 2017

Best Grenache Presented By Portavin
Geddes Wines Seldom Inn 2018

Best New South Wales Shiraz
Robert Oatley Vineyards Montrose Black Mudgee Shiraz 2018

Best Organic or Biodynamic Wine Trophy
Frankland Estate Wines Isolation Ridge Vineyard Shiraz 2017

Best Pinot Grigio
Joval Family Wines Tar&Roses Pinot Grigio 2019

Best Red Blend Presented By Kubota
Bleasdale Vineyards The Wild Fig SGM 2018

Best Riesling
Wirra Wirra The Lost Watch 2019

Best Rosé Presented By Labelhouse
Brokenwood Rosato 2019

Best Sauvignon Blanc Presented By Portavin
Larry Cherubino Wines The Yard Channybearup Sauvignon Blanc 2018

Best Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon Blend Presented By O-I Glass
Tamburlaine Organic Wines Marlowe Act One 2018

Best Single Varietal Red
Seppeltsfield Village Barossa Nero D’Avola 2019

Best Single Varietal White
Hahndorf Hill White Mischief Gruner Veltliner 2019

Best South Australian Shiraz
The Lane Vineyard Block 5 2018

Best Sparkling
Brown Brothers Pinot Noir Chardonnay Pinot Meunier NV

Best Sweet White Wine
Riversdale Estate Botrytis Riesling 2014

Best Victorian Shiraz
Paringa Estate Peninsula Shiraz 2018

Best Western Australian Shiraz
Frankland Estate Wines Isolation Ridge Vineyard Shiraz 2017

Best White Blend Presented By Labelhouse
Houghton Margaret River Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2019

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