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“Semsational” Performance In Sydney

By Friday 17 December 2021September 29th, 2023No Comments

Tyrrell’s Vat 1 Semillon 2013 won four trophies including the KPMG Perpetual Trophy for Best Wine of Show at the WCA Sydney Royal Wine Show.

It was the first Semillon in eight years to win the prize.

The judges assessed more than 1,700 wines over four days.

Chardonnay was also a standout this year with Orlando Lyndale Chardonnay 2018 taking home The AP John Coopers Perennial Trophy for Best Chardonnay and Shottesbrooke winning the Len Evans Memorial Perpetual Trophy for Best Single Vineyard Wine for its Shottesbrooke 2020 Single Vineyard Series Adelaide Hills’ Chardonnay.

“The results are very reflective of the vintage conditions of the last few years,” says chair of judges PJ Charteris.

“The cooler 2021 vintage has given us very flavoursome and varietally defined whites like Riesling and Semillon.

“Chardonnay continues to be a star, with a high medal strike rate amongst the more mature Semillon and Riesling classes.

“As with any great wine, there must be distinction, purity and true expression, all bundled up with absolute balance and harmony.

“Tyrrell’s 2013 Vat 1 Semillon, while mature at nearly nine years old, is just hitting its straps; this is a wine to buy and enjoy easily over the next five years, if not longer.”

In red varietals, small Victorian producer Sutton Grange Estate’s 2018 Syrah impressed the judges taking home The Dr Gilbert Phillips Memorial Perpetual Trophy for Best Red and the trophies for Best Small Producer Wine and Best Shiraz.

“On the red side of the ledger, Shiraz performed very strongly, reflecting the hotter and drier conditions of 2017, 2018 and 2019,” PJ says.

“The surprise pack, although it shouldn’t be given the heritage of these varieties, was Grenache, Grenache blends and some of the Iberian varieties like Tempranillo and Touriga, delivering freshness, vitality and excellent varietal definition.”

Making up 14 percent of the overall entries, small producers also made their mark this year taking home three out of the 27 trophies and delivering quality over quantity, with more than fifty percent of small producers entered taking home a medal. A small producer is a vineyard whose annual grape crush does not exceed 100 tonnes in the vintage from which the wine was made.

“These results are a reflection of the KPMG Sydney Royal Wine Show system and the importance of creating an environment where small producers feel like they are on a level playing field with the larger wine companies,” PJ says.

“In addition, our judging teams and entry criteria have ensured that anyone entering high-quality wine is in with a shot at gold and a trophy.”

Trophy winners:

Leslie Kemeny Memorial Perpetual Trophy for Best Rosé
Turkey Flat Rosé 2021

Thorp Annual Trophy for Best Sparkling White or Rosé
Coldstream Hills Blanc de Blancs 2015

Douglas Lamb Perpetual Trophy for Best Riesling
Robert Stein Riesling 2016

AP John Coopers Perennial Trophy for Best Chardonnay
Orlando Lyndale Chardonnay 2018

Len Evans Memorial Perpetual Trophy for Best Single Vineyard Wine
Shottesbrooke Vineyards Single Vineyard Series Adelaide Hills Chardonnay 2020

Dan Murphy’s Value Perennial Trophy for Best Value White
Tahbilk Marsanne 2020

Bert Bear Memorial Perpetual Trophy for Best Other White Varietal
Tahbilk Marsanne 2020

Dr Gilbert Phillips Memorial Perpetual Trophy for Best Red
Sutton Grange Estate Syrah 2018

Drinks Association Perennial Trophy for Best Shiraz
Sutton Grange Estate Syrah 2018

Restaurant and Catering Industry Association Perpetual Trophy for Best Small Producer Wine
Sutton Grange Estate Syrah 2018

Wine Communicators of Australia Perpetual Trophy for Best Other Red Varietal
Serafino Reserve Grenache 2020

Geoffrey Crundall Perpetual Trophy for Best Pinot Noir
Kreglinger Wine Estates Pipers Brook Estate Pinot Noir 2019

Dan Murphy’s Perennial Trophy for Best Cabernet Sauvignon
Shingleback D Block Cabernet Sauvignon 2019

JCM Fornachon Memorial Perpetual Trophy for Best Fortified
Morris Wines Old Premium Muscat

The Jones, Steins and Waller Perpetual Trophy for Best Cabernet Dominant Blend or Shiraz Dominant Blend
Evans & Tate Redbrook Estate Cabernet Merlot 2018

McCarthy Perpetual Trophy for Best Sauvignon Blanc
Cimicky Hidden Gem Sauvignon Blanc 2021

David Clarke Memorial Perpetual Trophy for Best Semillon
Tyrrell’s Vat 1 Semillon 2013

Dr Henry John Lindeman Memorial Perpetual Prize for Best Mature White
Tyrrell’s Vat 1 Semillon 2013

Albert Chan Memorial Prize for Best White
Tyrrell’s Vat 1 Semillon 2013

KPMG Perpetual Trophy for Best Wine of Show
Tyrrell’s Vat 1 Semillon 2013

Arthur Kelman Perpetual Trophy for Best Pinot Gris/Pinot Grigio
Hahndorf Hill Pinot Grigio 2021

Hanaminno Perpetual Trophy for Best Sweet White
De Bortoli Deen De Bortoli Botrytis Semillon 2017

RAS of NSW Annual Prize for Best Young White
Eden Hall Reserve Riesling 2021

John Swann Perpetual Trophy for Best Other Red Blend
De Bortoli Villages Tempranillo Touriga 2020

George Mackey Memorial Perpetual Trophy for Best Value Red
Lillypilly Estate Petit Verdot 2019

Rudy Komon Memorial Perpetual Trophy for Best Mature Red
Swings & Roundabouts Wildwood Cabernet Sauvignon 2017

InterConnect Perpetual Trophy for Best Sparkling Red
De Bortoli Woodfired Sparkling Red 2019

JJ McWilliam Memorial Perpetual Trophy for Best Brandy
St Agnes Distillery St Agnes XO 2005

KPMG Perpetual Trophy for Best Wine of Show (Last 10 Winners):
2019Yabby Lake Heathcote Estate Single Vineyard Shiraz 2017
2018Penfolds Reserve Bin 17A Chardonnay 2017
2017Rieslingfreak No. 3 Clare Valley Riesling 2017
2016House of Arras Grand Vintage 2007
2015Yabby Lake Single Vineyard Block Release Block 2 2013
2014Lobethal Road Wines Shiraz 2012
2013Bay of Fires Pinot Noir 2011
2012Mount Langi Ghiran Cliff Edge Shiraz 2010
2011Peter Lehmann Wines Margaret Semillon 2005
2010 – Pinhooker Collector Reserve Shiraz 2008

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