Lowestoft Estate La Maison 2022 Pinot Noir from Tasmania has won the 60th Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy for Best Young Red at the Melbourne Royal Wine Awards.
The Lowestoft brand, established in 2019, is owned by the Fogarty Wine Group based in Western Australia.
It is just the third time a Pinot Noir has won the Jimmy; Home Hill 2014 Kelly’s Reserve Tasmania Pinot Noir won it in 2015 and Yabby Lake 2012 Block 1 Mornington Peninsula Pinot Noir won it in 2013.
The Jimmy Watson has gone to Tasmania for the third time in thirteen years having not won it previously.
For the third year in a row, Lowestoft La Maison Pinot Noir has also won the James Halliday Trophy for Best Pinot Noir – this year with the 2022 vintage.
Lowestoft chief winemaker and general manager Liam McElhinney said, “It is a great honour for me and our winemaking and viticulture teams to be able to produce such amazing wines from the Lowestoft vineyard.
“This is a small three-hectare site, densely planted in 1986 to 8,300 vines per hectare.
“The Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy and the ‘three-peat’ James Halliday Trophy win shows the immense quality this vineyard produces year after year.
“We are immensely proud that the consistency of style we are capturing in the La Maison is setting a new benchmark for Australian Pinot Noir.
“Our success is Tasmania’s success, and we hope wine consumers will continue to appreciate how fantastic Tasmanian Pinot Noir is.”
The François De Castella Trophy for Best Young White went to Handpicked Wines Wombat Creek Vineyard 2022 Yarra Valley Chardonnay.
The same wine was also awarded Best Chardonnay and Best Victorian Chardonnay.
With over 904 eligible exhibits, the Douglas Seabrook Trophy for Best Single Vineyard Wine went to McWilliams Wines Single Vineyard 2022 Shiraz, with the same wine also taking out the Trevor Mast Trophy for Best Shiraz.
In their first win at the Awards, Tasmania’s Freycinet Vineyard has been awarded the Dr Tony Jordan Trophy for Best Sparkling with their Freycinet Vineyard Radenti Vintage Cuvee, 2016 Chardonnay, Pinot Noir.
This year the Melbourne Royal Wine Awards presented a total of 1197 medals, including 180 gold, 296 silver and 721 bronze.
Chair of judges Melanie Chester said, “The 2023 Melbourne Royal Wine Awards results demonstrate the strength and diversity our industry is producing.”
Established in 1884 with just thirteen entries, the Melbourne Royal Wine Awards have evolved and grown into a premier celebration for the Australian wine industry, attracting over 2,425 entries from more than 420 wineries.
Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy for Best Young Red
Lowestoft La Maison 2022 Tasmania Pinot Noir
James Halliday Trophy for Best Pinot Noir
Lowestoft La Maison 2022 Tasmania Pinot Noir
Trevor Mast Trophy for Best Shiraz
McWilliam’s 2022 Single Vineyard Shiraz
Francois De Castella Trophy for Best Young White
Handpicked Wines Wombat Creek Vineyard 2022 Yarra Valley Chardonnay
Douglas Seabrook Trophy for Best Single Vineyard Wine
McWilliam’s 2022 Single Vineyard Shiraz
Bill Chambers Trophy for Best Fortified Wine
McWilliam’s Hanwood Estate Rare Tawny NV Shiraz Touriga
Kym Ludvigsen Trophy for Viticultural Excellence
Russell Kerrison, viticulturist, Quarry Hill Vineyard, ACT
Dr Tony Jordan Trophy for Best Sparkling
Freycinet Vineyard Radenti Vintage Cuvee 2016 Chardonnay Pinot Tasmania
Best Riesling
Brothers At War Nothing In Common 2023 Eden Valley Riesling
Best Chardonnay
Handpicked Wines Wombat Creek Vineyard 2022 Yarra Valley Chardonnay
Best Semillon
Tyrrell’s Belford 2017 Hunter Valley Semillon
Best Sauvignon Blanc
Xanadu Vinework 2023 Margaret River Sauvignon Blanc
Best Pinot Gris/Grigio
Howard Vineyard 2023 Adelaide Hills Pinot Gris
Best Single Varietal White
Pike & Joyce 2023 Adelaide Hills Gruner Veltliner
Best White Blend
Stella Bella Suckfizzle 2022 Margaret River Sauvignon Blanc Semillon
Best Sweet White Wine
De Bortoli Noble One 2019 Semillon
Best Rosé
Turkey Flat 2023 Barossa Valey Rosé
Best Cabernet Sauvignon
Hamelin Bay 2022 Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon
Best Single Varietal Red
Coriole 2023 McLaren Vale Nero
Best Grenache
Gemtree Small Batch 2022 McLaren Vale Grenache SBE
Best Red Blend
Yarra Yering 2022 Yarra Valley Dry Red Wine No 3
Best Organic or Biodynamic Wine
Gemtree Small Batch 2022 McLaren Vale Grenache SBE
Best Victorian Shiraz
Yarra Yering Underhill 2022 Yarra Valley Shiraz
Best South Australian Shiraz
Lloyd Brothers 2022 Adelaide Hills Syrah
Best NSW/ACT Shiraz
McWilliams’s 2022 Single Vineyard Shiraz
Best Western Australian Shiraz
Smallwater Estate 2022 Geographe Shiraz
Best Victorian Chardonnay
Handpicked Wines Wombat Creek Vineyard 2022 Yarra Valley Chardonnay
Best South Australian Chardonnay
The Lane Vineyard 2022 Beginning Chardonnay
Best NSW/ACT Chardonnay
Mayfield Vineyard Block 14 2022 Orange Chardonnay
Best Western Australian Chardonnay
Evans & Tate 2021 Redbrook Reserve Chardonnay
Best Tasmanian Chardonnay
Lost Farm 2022 Tasmania Chardonnay
Consistency of Excellence Medal
Lost Farm 2022 Tasmania Chardonnay
Consistency of Excellence Medal
Stella Bella 2021 Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon
Consistency of Excellence Medal
Tyrrell’s Belford 2017 Hunter Valley Semillon
Consistency of Excellence Medal
Xanadu 2022 Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon
Consistency of Excellence Medal
Morris Wines Cellar Reserve Rutherglen Grand Muscat
Consistency of Excellence Medal
Morris Wines Cellar Reserve Rutherglen Grand Topaque
Consistency of Excellence Medal
Lowestoft La Maison 2022 Tasmania Pinot Noir
Consistency of Excellence Medal
House of Arras 2015 Grand Vintage
Champion Victorian Winery
Yarra Yering
Photo: Lowestoft chif winemaker Liam McElhinney with the Jimmy Watson Trophy.
Sixty years of the Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy
| 2023 | Lowestoft La Maison 2022 Tasmania Pinot Noir | |
| 2022 | Hentley Farm The Old Legend Barossa Valley Grenache 2021 | |
| 2021 | Fallen Giants 2019 Grampians Shiraz | |
| 2020 | Melbourne Royal Wine Awards cancelled due to COVID-19 | |
| 2019 | Bleasdale Vineyards The Wild Fig 2018 Langhorne Creek SGM | |
| 2018 | Xanadu 2016 Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon | |
| 2017 | Turkey Flat Vineyards 2016 Barossa Valley Grenache | |
| 2016 | Deep Woods Estate 2014 Reserve Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon | |
| 2015 | Home Hill Kelly’s Reserve 2014 Tasmania Pinot Noir | |
| 2014 | S.C. Pannell Wines 2013 Adelaide Hills Syrah | |
| 2013 | Yabby Lake Block 1 2012 Mornington Peninsula Pinot Noir | |
| 2012 | Best’s Great Western 2012 Bin 1 Grampians Shiraz | |
| 2011 | Glaetzer-Dixon Family Mon Pere 2010 Tasmania Shiraz | |
| 2010 | Harvey River Bridge Estate Joseph River Estate 2009 Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon | |
| 2009 | Eden Road Wines Long Road 2008 Hilltops Shiraz | |
| 2008 | Flametree Wines 2007 Margaret River Cabernet Merlot | |
| 2007 | Scarpantoni Estate Brothers Block 2006 Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon | |
| 2006 | Shingleback D Block Reserve 2005 McLaren Vale Cabernet Sauvignon | |
| 2005 | Geoff Merrill Wines 2004 McLaren Vale Reserve Shiraz | |
| 2004 | Casella Estate Yellowtail 2003 Wrattonbully Premium Cabernet Sauvignon | |
| 2003 | Saltram Wine Estate The Eighth Maker 2002 Barossa Valley Shiraz | |
| 2002 | Rosemount Estate Hill of Gold 2001 Mudgee Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot | |
| 2001 | Pepper Tree Wines 2000 Reserve Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon | |
| 2000 | Punters Corner Spartacus 1999 Reserve Coonawarra Shiraz | |
| 1999 | Wolf Blass Black Label 1998 Barossa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon | |
| 1998 | Katnook Estate Prodigy 1997 Coonawarra Shiraz | |
| 1997 | De Bortoli Gulf Station Vineyards 1996 Yarra Valley Shiraz | |
| 1996 | Hardy’s 1995 Eileen Hardy McLaren Vale & Padthaway Shiraz | |
| 1995 | Leasingham Classic 1994 Clare Shiraz | |
| 1994 | Rouge Homme 1993 Richardsons Red Block Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon Malbec Franc | |
| 1993 | Elderton 1992 Barossa Cabernet Sauvignon | |
| 1992 | Seppelt Harpers Range 1991 Victoria Cabernet Sauvignon Malbec | |
| 1991 | Mitchelton Print Label 1990 Nagambie Shiraz | |
| 1990 | Peter Lehmann 1989 Show Reserve Barossa Valley Shiraz | |
| 1989 | Jamiesons Run 1988 Coonawarra Shiraz Cab Sauv Cab Franc Malbec | |
| 1988 | Hardy’s The Hardy Collection 1987 Padthaway Cabernet Sauvignon | |
| 1987 | Riddoch 1986 Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz | |
| 1986 | Lindemans Pyrus 1985 Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Franc Malbec | |
| 1985 | Hollick 1984 Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon | |
| 1984 | Cape Mentelle Vineyard 1983 Margaret River Dry Red Claret (Cabernet Sauvignon) | |
| 1983 | Cape Mentelle Vineyard 1982 Margaret River Dry Red Claret (Cabernet Sauvignon) | |
| 1982 | Hamilton’s Ewell Vineyards 1981 Coonawarra Dry Red Claret (Cabernet Shiraz) | |
| 1981 | Lindemans St George Vineyard 1980 Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon | |
| 1980 | Krondorf Wines 1979 Dry Red Burgundy (Cabernet Sauvignon) | |
| 1979 | Orlando Wines 1978 Dry Red Claret (Cabernet Sauvignon) | |
| 1978 | Miller’s Chateau Yarrinya 1977 Dry Red Claret (Cabernet Sauvignon) | |
| 1977 | Wynns Coonawarra Estate 1976 Black Label Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon | |
| 1976 | Wolf Blass 1975 Langhorne Creek & Barossa Valley Dry Red Claret (Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz) | |
| 1975 | Wolf Blass 1974 Langhorne Creek & Coonawarra Dry Red Claret (Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz) | |
| 1974 | Wolf Blass 1973 Langhorne Creek & Eden Valley Dry Red Claret (Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz) | |
| 1973 | Berri Co-op Winery & Distillery 1972 Riverland Dry Red Claret/Burgundy (Cabernet Shiraz) | |
| 1972 | B Seppelt 1971 Dorrien TT 147 Barossa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon | |
| 1971 | Gramps Orlando 1970 Barossa Valley Dry Red Claret (Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon) | |
| 1970 | Basedow Wines 1969 Barossa Dry Red Claret/Burgundy (Bin 15, Cabernet/Shiraz) | |
| 1969 | d’Arenberg 1968 McLaren Vale Claret Type (Cabernet Sauvignon) | |
| 1968 | Penfolds 1967 Claret Type (Grange) | |
| 1967 | Saltram Wines 1966 Barossa Valley Burgundy Type (Cabernet Sauvignon) | |
| 1966 | Penfolds 1965 South Australia Claret Type (Grange) | |
| 1965 | B Seppelt & Sons Ltd 1964 Great Western Burgundy Type (Hermitage Shiraz) | |
| 1964 | Penfolds Claret Type 1963 Bin 64 South Australia Kalimna Cabernet Sauvignon | |
| 1963 | Hardy’s Tintara 1962 McLaren Vale Burgundy Type (Reserve Bin C404, Cabernet Sauvignon) | |
| 1962 | Stoneyfell Wines 1961 Metala Langhorne Creek Claret Type (Cabernet Shiraz) |