2011 Wine Show Results
November
Air New Zealand Wine Awards
Trophy winners
Business World Travel Champion Merlot
Villa Maria Reserve Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2009
Gold medal winners
Business World Travel Champion Merlot
Villa Maria Reserve GIMBLETT GRAVELS Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2008
Villa Maria Reserve Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2009
Fruitfed Supplies Champion Syrah
Villa Maria Cellar Selection GIMBLETT GRAVELS Syrah 2010
Squawking Magpie Stoned Crow GIMBLETT GRAVELS Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2009
The Langham, Auckland Champion Dessert Wine
Trinity Hill GIMBLETT GRAVELS Noble Hawke’s Bay Viognier 2009
Kapiti Champion Exhibition Red Wine
Villa Maria Reserve GIMBLETT GRAVELS Hawke’s Bay Grenache 2007
For a full list of results, visit www.airnzwineawards.com.
October
HB Mercedes Benz Wine Awards
Another successful haul for GIMBLETT GRAVELS wines at the 2011 Hawke’s Bay Mercedes Benz Wine Awards, securing 5 trophies and 13 gold medals.
Trophy winners
Champion Merlot
Church Road Cuve Merlot 2009
Champion Red Blends Cabernet Sauvignon Dominant
Newton Forrest Estate Cornerstone 2009
Champion Other Premium Red Varietals and Blends
Villa Maria Reserve Malbec 2009
Champion Viognier
Villa Maria Single Vineyard Omahu Gravels Viognier 2010
Best Export Wine of Show
Matariki Quintology 2007
Gold medal winners
Merlot Class
Gold Trophy Church Road Winery Church Road Cuve Merlot 2009
Gold Trinity Hill Trinity Hill Hawke’s Bay Merlot 2010
Gold Villa Maria Estate Villa Maria Reserve Merlot 2007
Red Blends – Cabernet Sauvignon Dominant Class
Gold Trophy Newton Forest Estate Newton Forrest Estate Cornerstone 2009
Gold Villa Maria Estate Villa Maria Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot 2009
Red Blends – Merlot Dominant Class
Gold Esk Valley Estate Esk Valley GIMBLETT GRAVELS Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon
Malbec 2009
Gold Esk Valley Estate Esk Valley Winemakers Reserve GIMBLETT GRAVELS Merlot
Cabernet Sauvignon Malbec 2007
Gold Te Awa Wines Left Field Merlot Malbec 2009
Gold Matariki Wines Matariki Quintology 2007
Syrah Class
Gold Squawking Magpie Squawking Magpie The Stoned Crow 2009
Gold Trinity Hill Trinity Hill GIMBLETT GRAVELS Syrah 2010
Other Premium Red Varietals and Blends Class
Gold Trophy Villa Maria Estate Villa Maria Reserve Malbec 2009
Viognier Class
Gold Trophy Villa Maria Estate Villa Maria Single Vineyard Omahu Gravels Viognier 2010
For a full list of results, visit www.hawkesbaywineawards.co.nz.
September
5 Nations Challenge
New Zealand has yet to prove it can beat its Southern hemisphere rivals at rugby, but GIMBLETT GRAVELS has once again proved it can beat all comers with Kidnapper Cliffs Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 being awarded the trophy for top Cabernet Sauvignon and Red Wine of Show at the 5-Nations Wine Challenge, involving wines from Australia, South Africa, Argentina, Chile and New Zealand.
Kidnapper Cliffs is a partnership between Te Awa and Dry River wineries, sourcing fruit from Te Awa’s vineyard in the GIMBLETT GRAVELS. For them, it was definitely a show to remember as three of their other red wines won gold medals (see below).
Further trophy success was achieved by Craggy Range, winning the Bordeaux Blends trophy with their Merlot predominant Sophia 2009.
Gold medals were also awarded to the following GIMBLETT GRAVELS wines:
Kidnapper Cliffs Cabernet Franc 2009 (Double Gold)
Kidnapper Cliffs Ariki Merlot Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Church Road Reserve Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2008
Villa Maria Reserve Cabernet Merlot 2008
Kidnapper Cliffs Pinotage 2009
Villa Maria Reserve Syrah 2009
For a full list of results, visit www.boutiquewines.com.au.
NZ International Wine Show.
Trinity Hill’s The Gimblett 2009 capped off a fine few months winning the Federal GEO Champion Merlot trophy at the New Zealand International Wine Show.
The same wine featured as one of the eight wines tasted alongside 2008 vintage Bordeaux at the Hong Kong Masterclass back in June.
The judges’ comments about the wine:
“Striking and deeply coloured, this firmly structured five grape Bordeaux blend is smoky, cedary and spicy with red and black fruits, earth, herbs, hints of chocolate and elusive floral nuances too.”
12 Gold medals were awarded as follows:
Viognier Class
Trinity Hill GIMBLETT GRAVELS Viognier 2010
Villa Maria Single Vineyard Omahu Gravels Viognier 2010
Cabernet Sauvignon Class
Coopers Creek SV Hawkes Bay Cabernet Sauvignon ‘GIMBLETT GRAVELS’ 2007
Merlot Class
Church Road Cuve Hawkes Bay Merlot 2008
Church Road Hawkes Bay Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Esk Valley Winemakers Reserve GIMBLETT GRAVELS Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon Malbec 2009
Mission Reserve GIMBLETT GRAVELS Merlot 2010
Squawking Magpie GIMBLETT GRAVELS The Nest Merlot Cabernet Franc 2008
Trinity Hill GIMBLETT GRAVELS ‘The Gimblett’ 2009
Villa Maria Reserve GIMBLETT GRAVELS Merlot 2007
Villa Maria Reserve GIMBLETT GRAVELS Merlot 2009
Syrah/Shiraz Class
Te Awa Hawkes Bay Syrah 2010
International Red Wines Class
Beach House Hawkes Bay Montepulciano 2009
For further information and results, visit www.nziws.co.nz.
August
Romeo Bragato Wine Awards
These awards recognise the vineyard manager as much as the wines, so congratulations, in particular, to Phil Holden of Villa Maria Group, for winning 3 trophies for wines from Villa’s Omahu Vineyard. Gavin Yortt of Squawking Magpie also collected the trophy for Champion Merlot.
Champion Other White Wine (Decanter) Phil Holden Omahu Vineyard
Villa Maria Single Vineyard Omahu Gravels Viognier 2010
Tom McDonald Memorial Trophy, Champion Classical Red Wine Phil Holden Omahu Vineyard
Vidal Legacy Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2009
Champion Other Red Wine (Decanter) Phil Holden Omahu Vineyard
Villa Maria Reserve Grenache 2007
Champion Merlot Gavin Yortt Squawking Magpie
Squawking Magpie GIMBLETT GRAVELS The Nest Merlot Cabernet Franc 2008
Gold medals were also awarded to the following wines:
Cabernet Sauvignon/predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon blends 2009
Villa Maria Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2009 – Phil Holden
Syrah 2009
Squawking Magpie GIMBLETT GRAVELS The Stoned Crow Syrah 2009 – Gavin Yortt
July
Spiegelau International Wine Competition
GIMBLETT GRAVELS wines from 3 vintages dominated the Merlot class with 4 gold medals and trophy being awarded to the Church Road Cuve Merlot 2009.
Merlot Class
Church Road Cuve Merlot 2009 – Gold and Trophy
Church Road Reserve Merlot Cabernet 2008
Trinity Hill Hawkes Bay Merlot 2010
Wild Rock ”Gravel Pit Red” Hawkes Bay Merlot Malbec 2009
May
2 Syrah Golds at International Wine Challenge
2 GIMBLETT GRAVELS Syrahs have collected prestigious gold medals at the International Wine Challenge in London.
Mills Reef Elspeth Trust Vineyard Syrah 2009 and Villa Maria Cellar Selection Syrah 2008 secured half of only 4 gold medals awarded to wines from Hawke’s Bay.
For a full list of results, visit www.internationalwinechallenge.com.
March
GIMBLETT GRAVELS Syrah the toast of Royal Easter Wine Show
Villa Maria’s Reserve Syrah 2009, sourced from fruit grown on the GIMBLETT GRAVELS, has secured Champion Wine honours at the 2011 Royal Easter Show Wine Awards, announced last Saturday evening.
Villa Maria had a night to remember, with their GIMBLETT GRAVELS Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2008 also securing trophy for Champion Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot wine.
Congratulations to Alastair Maling MW and Nic Picone who jointly share the prestigious Wine Makers of the Year accolade.
Not to be outdone, the Champion Merlot trophy was awarded to another GIMBLETT GRAVELS wine, the Church Road Cuve Merlot 2008.
Summarising the results, as follows:
Champion Wine of Show – Villa Maria Reserve Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2009
Champion Syrah – Villa Maria Reserve Hawke’s Bay Syrah 2009
Champion Cabernet Merlot – Villa Maria Reserve Hawke’s Bay Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2008
Champion Merlot – Church Road Cuve Merlot 2008
10 Gold medals were also awarded to GIMBLETT GRAVELS wines in this show.
For further information, visit www.wineshow.co.nz.
Sydney International Wine Competition 2011 Results
Four GIMBLETT GRAVELS wines have received accolades at this prestigious International competition which specialises in assessing wines’ compatability with foods.
Top ranked wines receive the Blue Gold award, with a further selection of the Top 100 wines made.
The following wines were accoladed:
Lighter Bodied Dry Red Wines Class
Te Awa Left Field Merlot 2009 – Blue Gold award
Trinity Hill GIMBLETT GRAVELS Syrah 2008 – Blue Gold award and Top 100 selection
Fuller Bodied Dry red Wines Class
Two Gates GIMBLETT GRAVELS Syrah 2007 – Blue Gold award and Top 100 selection
Dessert (Unfortified) Wines Class
Trinity Hill GIMBLETT GRAVELS Noble Viognier 2009 – Blue Gold award
28 February
Royal Easter Show 2011 – Gold Medal Results
The 2011 GIMBLETT GRAVELS Gold Medal charge was led by the Villa Maria Group at the recent announcement of the Royal Easter Show Wine Awards results.
Of the ten gold medals awarded to GIMBLETT GRAVELS wines, eight came from Villa Group, including wines under their brands of Vidal and Thornbury. The medals were collected across four different red wine categories and three different vintages, 2007 to 2009 inclusive.
All Gold medal winners remain in the running to become Trophy winners announced at the awards dinner early March.
The Gold medal winners are as follows:
Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot Predominant Blends Class
Trinity Hill The Gimblett 2008
Villa Maria Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2008
Villa Maria Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2009
Merlot Class
Church Road Cuve Merlot 2008
Thornbury Merlot 2009
Villa Maria Reserve Merlot 2008
Syrah Class
Vidal Reserve Syrah 2007
Villa Maria Reserve Syrah 2007
Villa Maria Reserve Syrah 2009
Other Red Varietals Class
Villa Maria Reserve Malbec 2009
For a full list of results, visit www.wineshow.co.nz.