Air New Zealand Wine Awards: Results

Here are the gold medal winner from the Air New Zealand Wine Awards. I’m listing them here in full as they paint an interesting picture of who wins what at NZ wine shows:

Sparkling
Deutz Marlborough Cuvee Blanc de Blancs 2006 (Pure Gold)
Hawkesbridge Marlborough Methode Traditionnelle 2006
Gewurztraminer
Curio d’Auvergne Vineyard Wairau Valley Marlborough Gewurztraminer 2008
Forrest The Valleys Wairau Gewurztraminer 2008
Hunter’s Gewurztraminer 2009 (Pure Gold)
Johanneshof Cellars Marlborough Gewurztraminer 2009
Morton Estate White Label Gewurztraminer 2009
Spy Valley Gewurztraminer 2009 (Pure Gold)
Waimea Nelson Gewurztraminer 2008

Pinot Gris
Brightwater Vineyards Nelson Pinot Gris 2009 (Pure Gold)
Couper’s Shed Pinot Gris 2009
Dashwood Marlborough Pinot Gris 2009

Riesling
Amisfield Lowburn Terrace Riesling 2007
Bladen Riesling 2009
Bouldevines Riesling 2009
Esk Valley Marlborough Riesling 2009
Forrest The Doctors’ Riesling 2009
Glenmark Weka Plains Proprietors Reserve Riesling 2003
Olssens Annieburn Riesling 2009 (Pure Gold)
R.S.V.P. Crosse Vineyard Marlborough Riesling 2008 (Pure Gold)
Vic Williams Selection Classic Marlborough Riesling 2008
Waipara Springs Premo Riesling 2005

Sauvignon Blanc
Catalina Sounds Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Lake Chalice Raptor Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Montana Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Mud House Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Saint Clair Pioneer Block 18 Snap Block Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Saint Clair Pioneer Block 19 Bird Block Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Saint Clair Pioneer Block 2 Swamp Block Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Saint Clair Pioneer Block 3 43 Degrees Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Sea Level Awatere Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Stoneleigh Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Vavasour Awatere Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Waimea Nelson Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Wairau River Home Block Sauvignon Blanc 2007

Chardonnay
Coopers Creek Gisborne Chardonnay Unoaked 2008
Crossroads Winery Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2008
John Forrest Collection Chardonnay 2004
Kemblefield The Reserve Chardonnay 2007 (Pure Gold)
Mudbrick Vineyard Reserve Chardonnay 2008
Saint Clair Pioneer Block 11 Cell Block Chardonnay 2008
Salvare Chardonnay 2007
Secret Stone Chardonnay 2009
Te Awa Chardonnay 2007
Villa Maria Reserve Barrique Chardonnay 2007
Villa Maria Reserve Barrique Fermented Chardonnay 2008
Villa Maria Reserve Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2008
Villa Maria Reserve Marlborough Chardonnay 2006
Villa Maria Reserve Marlborough Chardonnay 2007
Villa Maria Reserve Marlborough Chardonnay 2008
Villa Maria Single Vineyard Ihumatao Chardonnay 2007
Villa Maria Single Vineyard Taylors Pass Chardonnay 2006
Waimea Nelson Chardonnay 2008

Viognier
Church Road Reserve Viognier 2007
Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels Viognier 2008
Villa Maria Single Vineyard Omahu Viognier 2008

Dessert Wine
Church Road Reserve Noble Semillon 2004
Farmgate Noble Harvest Riesling 2007
Forrest Botrytised Riesling 2008
Glazebrook New Zealand Noble Harvest Riesling 2009
Margrain Botrytis Chenin Blanc 2009
Margrain Botrytis Riesling 2009
Margrain Botrytis Sauvignon Blanc 2009

Rosé
Clearview Estate Black Reef Blush 2009
Tarras Vineyards Pinot Rose 2009

Pinot Noir
Allan Scott Marlborough Pinot Noir 2008
Archangel Pinot Noir 2008
Babich Winemakers’ Reserve Pinot Noir 2008
Davishon Pinot Noir 2007
Fairmont Estate Pinot Noir 2008
Georgetown Vineyard Pinot Noir 2007
Greystone Waipara Pinot Noir 2008
Julicher 99 Rows Te Muna Road Pinot Noir 2008
Julicher Pinot Noir 2008
Pond Paddock Te Muna Pinot Noir 2008
Thornbury Central Otago Pinot Noir 2008 (Pure Gold)
Valli Bannockburn Vineyard Pinot Noir 2008
Villa Maria Reserve Pinot Noir 2006
Villa Maria Reserve Pinot Noir 2007
Villa Maria Single Vineyard Seddon Pinot Noir 2007 (Pure Gold)
Villa Maria Single Vineyard Southern Clays Pinot Noir 2008
Waipara Hills Southern Cross Selection Central Otago Pinot Noir 2008
Wither Hills Marlborough Pinot Noir 2008
Wooing Tree Pinot Noir 2007

Merlot
Villa Maria Reserve Merlot 2007

Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot and/or Cabernet Sauvignon Blends
Matariki Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
Mills Reef Elspeth Cabernet Merlot 2007
Newton Forrest Cornerstone 2007
Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels The Gimblett 2007
Villa Maria Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2007 (Pure Gold) Syrah
Church Road Reserve Syrah 2008
Coopers Creek SV Hawkes Bay Syrah Chalk Ridge 2008
Corbans Cottage Block Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2007
Gunn Estate Silistria Syrah 2007
Mills Reef Elspeth Syrah 2007
Miro Syrah 2008
Mudbrick Vineyard Reserve Syrah 2008
Passage Rock Reserve Syrah 2008
Vidal Hawkes Bay Syrah 2007
Vidal Reserve Syrah 2006

Other Red Varieties
Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels Tempranillo 2008
Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels Tempranillo 2007Unsurprising to see who wins what, but just the sheer scale of dominance is amazing – witness the command of St Clair in the Savvy class, Villa Maria in the Pinot & Chardonnay classes or Margrain in the stickies.

Whilst that really doesn’t raise questions quality wise – all three wineries really are on top of their respective games – it does perhaps give an insight into the sort of wine style that the judges are looking for. This could be a good aspect, as the wines in question are almost universally clean, intense and varietally typical wines, but it could also foster a breed of show friendly wines, that are made to satisfy judging requirements, as opposed to being damn good drinks…

I’m probably just playing devils advocate though, for amongst those gold medal winners is a multitude that I would happily drink, which ultimately means that they are worthy winners (if I say so myself 🙂