2015 Sydney Wine Show – Results + Tasting the Winners

Last week saw the 2015 Macquarie Group Sydney Royal Wine Show (to use the full name) winners announced and, carrying on a tradition that now dates back to 2009, I managed to get a look at some of the trophy winners (and more) firsthand at both the trophy dinner and the exhibitors tasting on Friday.Now I’m a little closer to this show than many, given I’m on the Sydney Wine Show Industry Consultative Committee (which provides industry feedback to the show organisers) and I admire the rigour with which this wine show is run.

Still, I remain unconvinced that any wine show with large classes (particularly of young full bodied reds) can deliver results that I completely believe in, especially when we see cheap-and-cheerful, fault-free, affable wines take home the silverware, perhaps because they’re perceived as better quality than something more serious and less approachable. as Gary Walsh points out:

Congrats to @WolfBlassWines 2013 Yellow Label Shiraz Silver (91 points) thrashing 2013 Mount Langi Langi Shiraz at 84 points. #wineshow
— Gary Walsh (@winefront) February 13, 2015

Then again, it’s difficult to argue against a move towards rewarding more immediately drinkable wines really, as for too long we’ve had oak-heavy, fruit-heavy wines picking up all the medals, almost to the detriment of enjoyment. Ten years ago it was all about structure and impact first, balance and drinkability an afterthought. I can only thank God those days are (largely) over, while the best ‘big and beautiful’ wines still pick up medals. Seems much more fair.

It does pose an interesting conundrum though – do you judge on outright brilliance or outright deliciousness? I’d argue a little bit of both, but what do I know, eh?..

Anyways, there is much to like in this lot, with the standard, as a whole, pretty damn good.

The following wines then were tasted at the awards dinner and next day at the exhibitors tasting. Sadly I only managed an hour or so at the tasting, which was shit given how much good wine was open in one room. It’s an annual regret as I never get to to do it justice.

As a result this was a quite rushed look at the wines. Still, I think I got my head around most of these….

Seppelt Original Sparkling Shiraz 2012
Trophy and gold medal
Welcome back Seppelt Original! Light and tight. It’s really quite clean and red fruited, a simple and affable sparkling red to bring you back to the fold. A dash of plum essence Great western fruit too. Not complex, but nice. 17/20, 90/100+

Tyrrell’s Vat 1 Hunter Valley Semillon 2006
3 trophies and gold medal
Fantastic. There’s a hint of green melon fruit still on the nose, a nod to just how youthful this looks at 9 years old. Ultra dry, but fleshed out with bottle age, the palate powerful and long. A top Vat 1 and a glorious drink. Wine of show for mine. 18.7/20, 95/100

Brokenwood ILR Hunter Valley Semillon 2009
Gold medal
Gentle and open. Warm year. Cuddly and soft palate, just the first toast. Affable but more of a drink sooner prospect compared to some other ILRs (like the 06 which is still only just getting started). 17.8

Brokenwood Latara Hunter Valley Semillon 2009
Gold medal
By contrast to the ILR this is more tart, more defined. Not as affable and more backward than the ILR but more angular. I like it more because of the angles methinks. 18.2/20, 93/100

Zeppelin Cellar Aged Riesling 2009
Trophy and gold medal
Gentle. Middling weight, lemon fruit with late softening edges. Pleasant but lacks power, acid the only thing filling out the finish. Ordinary and tiring already. 16/20, 87/100

Knappstein Slate Creek Clare Valley Riesling 2014
Silver medal
Intensely Limey, great zing. Long palate. Maybe a little soft. Nice and approachable without losing structure. 17.8/20, 92/100

Peter Lehmann Wigan Eden Valley Riesling 2014
Gold medal
Lifted nose but very tight palate. Super length but not giving much yet. Long, powerful and defined. Long termer and classic in the making. Not approachable now though. 18/20, 93/100+

Yarra Burn Bastard Hill Yarra Valley Chardonnay 2013
Silver medal
Golden butternut. Excellent balance between honey nut oak and lees with sprightly acid. Instantly old and new school with more about lees and oak then sulphides. Bright finish. Excellent. Will get even better too. 18.5/20, 94/100+

Yabby Lake Single Vineyard Block 6 Mornington Peninsula Chardonnay 2013
Bronze medal
Cleverly worked style. Gumball sulphides adding complexity. Just a fraction forward to be great, with some late honey development. Tangy acid is just a bit tart and it seems just a bit too forward to be refreshing. 17.8/20, 92/100

Soumah Single Vineyard Yarra Valley Chardonnay 2013
2 trophies and gold medal
In some ways this could be construed as a bit broad and oaky if judged against a modern Chardonnay ‘lean is better’ idiom, yet it is the full, mouth-filling toast edges that give this it’s attractive generosity. Very smart wine and bound to get better. Enjoyable stuff. 18.5/20, 94/100

Yabby Lake Single Vineyard Mornington Peninsula Block 2 Pinot Noir 2013
6 trophies and gold medal
This cleaned up and I can see why – it’s a great representation of Mornington Pinot, if just a bit stewed and warm for mine (warm site, warm vintage so makes sense). All stewed raspberry and redcurrant. It’s quite sappy and warm, the vintage writ large. Still, it feels quite composed, if more like spiced jam than the beautiful pinosity of this in 2012. I like the power and intensity of this, but it’s just a bit too glacé and warm/ bitter to be beautiful. Composed acidity though. Hard to knock really, more of a stylistic preference away from this sort of bold and warm Mornington Pinot. 18/20, 93/100+

Riorret the Abbey Yarra Valley Pinot Noir 2012
No medal
Odd. Methinks the De Bortoli team has pushed too far with this puppy, the meaty, tilled earth wildness a nod to pushing the boundaries of hands off winemaking, yet without the natural wine purity. Indeed its quite bitter and gamey, the whole bunch giving this a stemmy, bitter edge that derails purity. I wasn’t a fan. 15/20, 84/100

Rosemount Estate McLaren Vale GSM 2013
Trophy and gold medal
Gummy, slightly confected sweet purple fruit. All about Grenache. It’s a fraction too sweet and purple fruited to be great, but again a nice wine. I quite like the tannins here too – feels real and bright and polished. A fraction too sweet and manicured for higher marks, but no doubting the Grenachey appeal. What a pity this winery is closing down… 17.5/20, 91/100

Zontes Footstep Violet Beauregard Langhorne Creek Malbec 2013
Trophy and gold medal
Not a bad effort at all! It’s built much more like something from a warm spot in Argentina, carrying that flourish of blue and black berries, the warm year giving some tarriness and complete with a dash of Langhorne mint. The acid is a bit prickly, but this meaty, fruit laden style is well built and should improve with more years in barrel. Not a bad effort! 17.7/20, 92/100

Paracombe Adelaide Hills Shiraz 2010
Trophy and gold medal
Purple fruit, there’s a jubey generosity here that belies the fact it’s a 5 year old. Mighty simple wine though. Pleasant purple fruit, no more. Has some spice though. Good, without lifting higher. 17/20, 90/100

Collector Reserve Canberra Shiraz 2013
Gold medal
Pepper steak! This smells fantastic, that red fruit and pepper really quite attractive. The well modulated palate is mid weight and compact, with lots of acid. A lovely peppery Canberra shiraz, it’s just a little too oak driven and young now but the style is excellent. I genuinely want some of this – I really enjoyed it. 18.7/20, 95/100+

Rosemount Traditional District Red 2012
Trophy and gold medal
Dark and meaty, this really works! There’s a sense that it’s been touched up a little in the winery, but for cleverness of structure and balance this is excellent. Big company style but done really well, with impact and layers of flavour. Real heaty McLaren Vale Cabernet. Admirable! 18.5/20, 94/100

Bleasdale Broadside Langhorne Creek Red Blend 2013
Trophy and gold medal
Medium weight initially, there’s some thickness through the middle in classic Langhorne form. It’s a warm, hearty, blue and black berried style. Lots of sweet fruit. Nice wine, if a bit simple and mono-dimensional compared to the Frank Potts. 17/20, 90/100

Bleasdale Frank Potts Langhorne Creek Red Blend 2013
Trophy and gold medal
This is the best Frank Potts I’ve had. Deepest oak, deep choc mint fruit. For all its luscious Langhorne thickness this is not hot or awkward to finish. Balance is actually really good and, though oak plays a big part, this has a freshness to belie the wall of tannin and richness. Impressed. In its vein this is top shelf, though I can see it might not please lovers of ‘big reds’ who want silkiness, but this felt so, well, right. What Langhorne reds should taste like. 18.5/20, 94/100

Xanadu Estate Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
Trophy and gold medal
Bay leaf, mint. There’s a mixed ripeness edge here which makes this more leafy and more classic but also sweet and sour. In time this is going to be a stunner – it will always be about acid and tannin and drinks a little awkward now. Gee it’s going to be nice in time 17.5/20, 91/100+

D’Arenberg Noble Wrinkled McLaren Vale Riesling 2011
2 trophies and gold medal
You know what? This is really smart – a real surprise packet.  Rich and honeyed, the flavours typically syrupy but it’s cut with acid and the length is excellent. Really quite nice and long, if very chubby. 17.7/20, 92/100+

St Hugo Vetus Perum Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
Bronze medal
I have no idea where this fits in the range, but oh gee its going to be good eventually. At present it feels like a barrel sample, all black fruit, black oak, firm tannins and firm acid. I can’t stress how important the plus signs are going to be here, for it feels like an attack at the moment. 17.5/20, 91/100+

The full trophy winners:

 

THE DOUGLAS LAMB PERPETUAL TROPHY FOR BEST RIESLING. Donated by the Family and Friends of the late Douglas Lamb.
Winner	19	ECHELON WINE PARTNERS HANWOOD NSW 2680 ZEPPELIN CELLAR AGED (2009)
THE RAS OF NSW ANNUAL PRIZE FOR BEST SAUVIGNON BLANC. Supported by the RAS of NSW.
Winner	54	MILLBROOK WINERY JARRAHDALE WA 6124 MARGARET RIVER SAUVIGNON BLANC (2014) Website: www.millbrookwinery.com.au
THE DAVID CLARKE MEMORIAL PERPETUAL TROPHY FOR BEST SEMILLON. Donated by Jane, Timothy and Angus Clarke and Maxine Cooley.
Winner	16	TYRRELL’S VINEYARDS PTY LTD POKOLBIN NSW 2320 VAT 1 SEMILLON (2006)
THE LESLIE KEMENY MEMORIAL PERPETUAL TROPHY FOR BEST PINOT GRIS. Donated by Kemeny’s Food and Liquor.
Winner	42	WINE BY SAM AVENEL VIC 3664 THE VICTORIAN (2014) Website: www.winebysam.com.au
THE A P JOHN COOPERS PERENNIAL TROPHY FOR BEST CHARDONNAY. Donated by A P John Coopers.
Winner	52	SOUMAH PTY LTD COLDSTREAM VIC 3770 SINGLE VINEYARD CHARDONNAY (2013) Website: www.soumah.com.au
THE BERT BEAR MEMORIAL PERPETUAL TROPHY FOR BEST OTHER WHITE VARIETAL. Donated by the First Thursday Luncheon Club.
Winner	7	TAHBILK WINERY NAGAMBIE VIC 3608 “1927 VINES” MARSANNE (2007) Website: www.tahbilk.com.au
THE LIQUORLAND PERPETUAL TROPHY FOR BEST WHITE BLEND. Donated by Liquorland.
Winner	24	BARWICK WINES SUCCESS WA 6941 WHITE LABEL (2014)
THE HANAMINNO PERPETUAL TROPHY FOR BEST SWEET WHITE. Donated by Mr Michael Arnott and Family.
Winner	7	D’ARENBERG MCLAREN VALE SA 5171 THE NOBLE WRINKLED RIESLING (2011) Website: www.darenberg.com.au
The Hanaminno Annual Prize for the Best Sweet White Wine, supported by Mr Michael Arnott and Family.
Winner	7	D’ARENBERG MCLAREN VALE SA 5171 THE NOBLE WRINKLED RIESLING (2011) Website: www.darenberg.com.au
THE DR HENRY JOHN LINDEMAN MEMORIAL PERPETUAL PRIZE FOR BEST MATURE WHITE WINE. Donated by Lindeman (Holdings) Limited.
Winner	16	TYRRELL’S VINEYARDS PTY LTD POKOLBIN NSW 2320 VAT 1 SEMILLON (2006)
THE DAN MURPHY’S VALUE PERENNIAL TROPHY FOR BEST VALUE WHITE WINE. Donated by First Estate Wine Merchants.
Winner	54	MILLBROOK WINERY JARRAHDALE WA 6124 MARGARET RIVER SAUVIGNON BLANC (2014) Website: www.millbrookwinery.com.au
THE RUDY KOMON MEMORIAL PERPETUAL TROPHY FOR BEST ROSÉ. Donated by Mrs Ruth Komon.
Winner	15	LONGVIEW VINEYARD MACCLESFIELD SA 5153 BOAT SHED ROSATO (2014) Website: www.longviewvineyard.com.au
THE GEOFFREY CRUNDALL PERPETUAL TROPHY FOR BEST PINOT NOIR. Donated by Geoffrey Crundall Cellars.
Winner	14	YABBY LAKE PRAHRAN VIC 3818 SINGLE VINEYARD BLOCK RELEASE BLOCK 2 (2013) Website: www.yabbylake.com
THE DAN MURPHY’S PERENNIAL TROPHY FOR BEST CABERNET SAUVIGNON. Donated by Dan Murphy’s.
Winner	89	XANADU WINES MARGARET RIVER WA 6285 CABERNET SAUVIGNON (2012) Website: www.xanaduwines.com
THE JONES, STEAINS AND WALLER PERPETUAL TROPHY FOR BEST CABERNET DOMINANT BLEND. Donated by A W & A Pardey.
Winner	3	BLEASDALE VINEYARDS LANGHORNE CREEK SA 5255 FRANK POTTS (2013) Website: www.bleasdale.com.au
THE DRINKS ASSOCIATION PERENNIAL TROPHY FOR BEST SHIRAZ. Donated by the Liquor Merchants Association of Australia.
Winner	156	BROWN BROTHERS MILAWA VINEYARD PTY LTD MILAWA VIC 3678 18 EIGHTY NINE SHIRAZ (2013) Website: www.brownbrothers.com.au
THE JOHN SWANN PERPETUAL TROPHY FOR BEST SHIRAZ DOMINANT BLEND. Donated by the Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation.
Winner	10	BLEASDALE VINEYARDS LANGHORNE CREEK SA 5255 BROADSIDE (2013) Website: www.bleasdale.com.au
THE WINE COMMUNICATORS OF AUSTRALIA PERPETUAL TROPHY FOR BEST OTHER RED VARIETAL. Donated by The Wine Press Club of NSW.
Winner	10	ZONTE’S FOOTSTEP MCLAREN VALE SA 5171 VIOLET BEAUREGARD MALBEC (2013) Website: www.zontesfootstep.com.au
Prize (Annual Trophy) for best Other Red Varietal, supported by the Wine Communicators of Australia.
Winner	10	ZONTE’S FOOTSTEP MCLAREN VALE SA 5171 VIOLET BEAUREGARD MALBEC (2013) Website: www.zontesfootstep.com.au
THE FOUR SEASONS HOTEL SYDNEY PERPETUAL TROPHY FOR BEST OTHER RED BLEND. Donated by the Four Seasons Hotel Sydney.
Winner	7	ROSEMOUNT ESTATES PTY LTD NURIOOTPA SA 5355 ESTATE GSM (2013) Website: www.tweglobal.com
THE THEO AND HELEN KAREDIS PERPETUAL TROPHY FOR BEST MATURE RED WINE. Donated by Theo’s Liquor Markets.
Winner	23	PARACOMBE WINES PARACOMBE SA 5132 SHIRAZ (2010) Website: www.paracombewines.com
THE GEORGE MACKEY MEMORIAL PERPETUAL TROPHY FOR BEST VALUE RED WINE. Donated by the Australian Grape and Wine Authority.
Winner	11	ROSEMOUNT ESTATES PTY LTD NURIOOTPA SA 5355 DISTRICT TRADITIONAL RED (2012) Website: www.tweglobal.com
THE THORP ANNUAL TROPHY FOR BEST SPARKLING WHITE OR ROSÉ. Donated by the late Mr G M Thorp.
Winner	35	CHARLES STURT UNIVERSITY WINERY WAGGA WAGGA NSW 2678 RESERVE SPARKLING (2010) Website: www.csu.edu.au/winery
THE INTERCONTACT PERPETUAL TROPHY FOR BEST SPARKLING RED. Donated by InterContact Public Relations.
Winner	6	B SEPPELT & SONS LIMITED NURIOOTPA SA 5355 SEPPELT ORIGINAL SPARKLING SHIRAZ (2012) Website: www.tweglobal.com
THE J C M FORNACHON MEMORIAL PERPETUAL TROPHY FOR BEST FORTIFIED WINE. Donated by the late Rudy Komon.
Winner	1	MORRIS WINES ROWLAND FLAT SA 5352 OLD PREMIUM RARE LIQUEUR MUSCAT (NV) Website: www.morriswines.com
THE JJ MCWILLIAM MEMORIAL PERPETUAL TROPHY FOR BEST BRANDY. Donated by McWilliam’s Wines Pty Ltd.
Winner	1	ST AGNES DISTILLERY RENMARK SA 5341 ST AGNES XO (NV) Website: www.angove.com.au
THE LEN EVANS MEMORIAL PERPETUAL TROPHY FOR BEST SINGLE VINEYARD WINE. Donated by the Wine Committee of the RAS of NSW and the family and friends of Len Evans.
Winner	14	YABBY LAKE PRAHRAN VIC 3818 SINGLE VINEYARD BLOCK RELEASE BLOCK 2 (2013) Website: www.yabbylake.com
THE RESTAURANT AND CATERING INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION PERPETUAL TROPHY FOR BEST SMALL PRODUCER WINE. Donated by the Restaurant and Catering Association of NSW.
Winner	14	YABBY LAKE PRAHRAN VIC 3818 SINGLE VINEYARD BLOCK RELEASE BLOCK 2 (2013) Website: www.yabbylake.com
THE INTERNATIONAL GUEST JUDGE ANNUAL PRIZE. Supported by the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW, awarded to the Exhibitor of the best Wine judged by the International Guest Judge.
Winner	15	LONGVIEW VINEYARD MACCLESFIELD SA 5153 BOAT SHED ROSATO (2014) Website: www.longviewvineyard.com.au
THE STEWARD ANNUAL PRIZE. Supported by the RAS of NSW, awarded to the Exhibitor of the best wine judged by the Stewards ented in Classes 1 to 69.
Winner	23	MOUNT PLEASANT HANWOOD NSW 2680 LOVEDALE (2009) Website: www.mountpleasantwines.com.au
THE NSW DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES JAMES BUSBY PERPETUAL TROPHY FOR BEST NSW WINE. Donated by the NSW Department of Primary Industries.
Winner	16	TYRRELL’S VINEYARDS PTY LTD POKOLBIN NSW 2320 VAT 1 SEMILLON (2006)
THE ALBERT CHAN MEMORIAL PRIZE FOR BEST WHITE WINE. Donated by Friends of the late Albert Chan.
Winner	52	SOUMAH PTY LTD COLDSTREAM VIC 3770 SINGLE VINEYARD CHARDONNAY (2013) Website: www.soumah.com.au
THE DR GILBERT PHILLIPS MEMORIAL PERPETUAL TROPHY FOR BEST RED WINE. Donated by the Wine Society.
Winner	14	YABBY LAKE PRAHRAN VIC 3818 SINGLE VINEYARD BLOCK RELEASE BLOCK 2 (2013) Website: www.yabbylake.com
Prize (Annual Trophy) for the Best Red Wine, supported by the Wine Society.
Winner	14	YABBY LAKE PRAHRAN VIC 3818 SINGLE VINEYARD BLOCK RELEASE BLOCK 2 (2013) Website: www.yabbylake.com
THE MACQUARIE GROUP PERPETUAL TROPHY FOR BEST WINE OF SHOW. Donated by Macquarie Group.
Winner	14	YABBY LAKE PRAHRAN VIC 3818 SINGLE VINEYARD BLOCK RELEASE BLOCK 2 (2013) Website: www.yabbylake.com
THE FINE WINE PARTNERS PERPETUAL TROPHY. Donated by Tucker Seabrook (Aust) P/L, awarded to the Exhibitor of the best State Wine Show Wine exhibited at major State Wine Shows within the twelve months preceding judging.
Winner	5	YABBY LAKE NATIONAL WINE SHOW OF AUSTRALIA & SYDNEY ROYAL WINE SHOW SINGLE VINEYARD BLOCK RELEASE BLOCK 2 (2013)