You have to feel for the more than 95% of entries that didn’t quite make the cut, but for the Top 50 winners it is fantastic brand recognition and sales for their wines across the country, while for consumers that gold medal is a reassuring tick of confidence when you are faced with a sea of wines on the shelves.
The Zero category, of wines below 0.5% alc, saw a significant uptick in entries with roughly 50 wines being judged this year. Gold medals remain elusive with just bronzes awarded, reminding me that this category remains a work in progress. A selection of "recommended wines" will be promoted in selected stores.
The NWWA people sent me the trio of wines reviewed here to sample, a quality-assurance test if you like: I was heartened by the results of the tasting.
Central Otago Young Winemaker of the Year
The 2023 Tonnellerie de Mercurey Central Otago Young Winemaker of the Year competition was held at Vinpro in Cromwell in September. Contestants undertook various challenges including laboratory and tasting skills, wine industry knowledge, creating a white wine blend for marketing panel review, also an interview with industry leaders and a speech at the dinner, held at Carrick Estate.
Congratulations to Eliana Leal from Amisfield: this year’s winner. Further congratulations to the second and third place winners Paiqi Oscar Cau, also from Amisfield, and Callum Scarborough from Felton Road.
As well as her prize package, Eliana represented Central at the national finals which were held last week in Canterbury, and picked up a section prize for her presentation on AI in the wine industry and laboratory skills. Well done!
2021 Squawking Magpie The Chatterer Hawke’s Bay Syrah
Rating Excellent
Spicy, peppery
influences, minerality,
graphite, fruit neatly in
support. Vibrant & juicy
in the mouth, crunchy
tannins, nicely balanced
and integrated offering
lovely drinkability yet I
suspect some potential
too. Cranberry, red
fruits, earthy touches,
smoke & char with
aeration, elegance rather
than a ball-tearer with
layers of flavour.
Complexity here.
2021 Grant Burge Miamba Barossa Shiraz
Rating Excellent
Noticeably generous on
the nose, berry
compote, oak spices
fragrance growing.
Richness yet not overly
sweet, offering berry
jam, blackberry, spices,
oak seasoning and lead
pencil with a good
structural backbone
that adds a grainy,
chewy aspect to the
attractively dry finish.
Richness, serious,
equally at home on its
own or with food.
2019 Thorn-Clarke Sandpiper Barossa Shiraz
Rating Very Good to Excellent
Ripe fruit jumps out of
the glass, mixed
berryfruits, darker fruits,
chocolate, tilled earth &
savoury nuances.
Nicely creamy
mouthfeel before the
tingly acidity kicks in
lending zesty vibrancy,
while the tannic
backbone also plays its
part. Dried cherry,
choc-orange, full of
flavour and generosity,
showing more of the
typical Aussie fruit
sweetness as it opens.
