Yalumba 2021 Sanctum Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon won the Bill Redman Trophy for Best Wine of Show at the Limestone Coast Wine Show, outclassing 443 other entries from 62 exhibitors.
The wine also won the HR (Ron) Haselgrove Trophy for Best Cabernet Sauvignon (Current to 3 Year Old) and the David Wynn Trophy for Best Red Wine of Show.
The awards were presented last night at Padthaway Estate.
Chief of judges Philip Rich says the winning red, which retails for under $30 a bottle, impressed from the outset.
“It was a hotly contested class which highlights what a fantastic year 2021 was for the region, but we just loved this wine’s combination of concentration and depth of fruit while also having some finesse and elegance about it at the same time – ultimately, it’s a beautifully balanced wine,” he said.
The grapes selected for the winning wine come from the Menzies Estate Vineyard – a patch of vivid red soil that Yalumba describes as Coonawarra’s ‘inner sanctum’ and ‘the holy grail of all Cabernet purists’.
Viticulturist James Freckleton won the Arthur Hoffmann Trophy for Viticulturist of the Year for his role in producing such an exceptional wine, taking Yalumba’s overall trophy haul to four.
Balnaves of Coonawarra 2022 Chardonnay won the Pam Dunsford Trophy for Best Chardonnay and the Colin Kidd Trophy for Best White of Show, while the 2017 vintage won Best Museum White.
Raidis Estate won the Karl Seppelt Trophy for Best Aromatic White (excluding Chardonnay) for Raidis Estate 2023 The Kid Riesling and the Trophy for Best Rose for their 2023 Laila Rose.
Majella Wines won The Ewen Fergusson McBain Trophy for Best Museum Red for its 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon and shared the Most Successful Exhibitor trophy with Wynns Coonawarra Estate.
Wynns Coonawarra Estate Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon (2021, 2015, 2010) won the Best Wine of Provenance Trophy, while the Wynns Coonawarra Estate 2021 V&A Lane Coonawarra Shiraz was named the Chief of Judges ‘Wine to Watch’.
“The Shiraz class was incredibly strong, and I chose this particular wine because it was a slightly more modern expression of Coonawarra Shiraz,” Philip Rich says.
“It was very pure and fruit-driven, and I loved its perfume and elegance – it’s just a terrific wine.”
Sweden’s Madeleine Stenwreth gave her International Judge’s Award to Brand and Sons Wines’ 2021 Sanctuary Cabernet Sauvignon.
Full list of trophy winners:
Bill Redman Trophy for Best Wine of Show
Sponsored by CCL Labels
Yalumba 2021 Sanctum Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon
Arthur Hoffmann Trophy for Viticulturist of the Year
Sponsored by Vinpac International
James Freckleton
David Wynn Trophy for Best Red of Show
Sponsored by Cooperages 1912
Yalumba 2021 Sanctum Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon
Colin Kidd Trophy for Best White of Show
Sponsored by Padthaway Wine Region
Balnaves of Coonawarra 2022 Chardonnay
Karl Seppelt Trophy for Best White (excluding Chardonnay)
Sponsored by Multi-Color
Raidis Estate 2023 The Kid Riesling
Pam Dunsford Trophy for Best Chardonnay
Sponsored by VAF Memstar
Balnaves of Coonnawarra 2022 Chardonnay
Peter Wehl Trophy for Best Other Single Variety of Italian, Portuguese & Spanish Heritage
Sponsored by Della Toffola
Wangolina 2022 A-Series Montepulciano
Trophy for Best Other Single Variety of French Heritage
Sponsored by Cork Supply Australia
Leconfield Wines 2021 Merlot
Trophy for Best Blended Red
Sponsored by BHF Technologies
Smith and Hooper 2021 Cabernet Merlot
Eric Brand Trophy for Best Shiraz
Sponsored by Lallemand
Katnook Estate 2021 Prodigy Shiraz
HR (Ron) Haselgrove Trophy for Best Cabernet Sauvignon
(Current to 3 Years Old)
Sponsored by Wrattonbully Wine Region
Yalumba 2021 Sanctum Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon
Trophy for Best Cabernet Sauvignon
(4 to 6 Years Old)
Sponsored by Seguin Moreau
Orlando 2019 Jacaranda Ridge Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon
Trophy for Best Sparkling Wine
Sponsored by Nutrien Ag Solutions
Grey Smith Wines 2018 Mount Gambier Blanc de Blanc
Trophy for Best Rosé
Sponsored by Must@Coonawarra
Raidis Estate 2023 Laila Rosé
Trophy for Best Wine of Provenance
Sponsored by Torresan Wine Estates
Wynns 2021, 2015, 2010 Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon
Ewen Fergusson McBain Trophy for Best Museum Red
Sponsored by Hahn Corporation
Majella Wines 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon
Trophy for Best Museum White
Sponsored by Eura Carla
Balnaves of Coonawarra 2017 Chardonnay
Small Batch Experimental Award
Sponsored by EE Muir & Sons
Cape Jaffa Wines 2022 Aura Project Barbera
International Judges Award
Sponsored by Elders Naracoorte
Brand and Sons Wines 2021 Sanctuary Cabernet Sauvignon
Chief of Judges Wine to Watch
Sponsored by Lawrence’s Irrigation
Wynns 2021 V&A Lane Shiraz
Most Successful Exhibitors
Sponsored by Kauri
Majella Wines and Wynns Coonawarra
Trophy for Best Individual Vineyard Wine
Sponsored by Australian Frost Fans
Orlando Wines 2019 Lawson’s Padthaway Shiraz
Photo: Tanya Doecke from CCL Labels presents the Bill Redman Trophy for Best Wine of Show to Yalumba senior winemaker Heather Fraser.