David Hook Wines and Tintilla Estate were the big winners at this year’s Hunter Valley Boutique Wine Show.
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The awards winners were announced at a dinner at Crowne Plaze on Thursday night.
The David Hook shiraz from the stellar 2014 vintage was named best red wine of show, while the aged semillon from Tintilla – the 2009 vintage – took out the gong for best white wine.
All up, 315 wines were tasted over two days by a panel of six judges. The six judges are winemakers from the valley’s bigger wineries who offer their opinions and expertise to the smaller operators.
Chairman of judges Keith Tulloch said the overall quality was outstanding.
“A lot of the wine was from the 2015 and 2016 vintages which had their challenges with milder weather and rain at harvest,” he said. “But considering that, the overall standard was very good indeed. It was a pleasure to judge wines like this and it’s testament to the quality of the winemakers we have in the valley.”
Of the 315 entries, 10 per cent received gold medals, 16 percent silver and 37 per cent bronze – a higher percentage than in most shows.
“The 2014 shraz class was exceptionally good,” Tulloch said. “And a vermentino and a tempranillo were also among the winners which highlights the very bright future of these Mediterranean varieties in the region.
“Some of the aged semillons from 2009 were truly superb, world class in fact, no doubt. And we also tasted some wonderful aged releases from 2011 and 2013.”
Winners
BEST WHITE WINE OF SHOW
TINTILLA ESTATE - 2009 SEMILLON
BEST RED WINE OF SHOW
DAVID HOOK - 2014 SHIRAZ
KARL STOCKHAUSEN TROPHY
TINTILLA ESTATE - 2009 SEMILLON
CLASS 1—SPECIFIC VINTAGE REDS— SHIRAZ
Thomas Wines - 2015
CLASS 2—SPECIFIC VINTAGE REDS— SHIRAZ
David Hook - 2014
CLASS 3—OPEN VINTAGE REDS—SHIRAZ
Midnight’s Promise Estate - 2013
CLASS 4—CURRENT VINTAGE WHITES– SEMILLON
Thomas Wines - 2016
CLASS 7—2015 VINTAGE WHITES—SEMILLON
Mistletoe Wines
CLASS 8—2015 VINTAGE WHITES—CHARDONNAY
RidgeView Wines
CLASS 9—OPEN VINTAGE WHITES—SEMILLON
Mistletoe Wines - 2013 and McLeish Estate - 2009
CLASS 10—OPEN VINTAGE WHITES—CHARDONNAY
Ballabourneen Wine Company - 2014
CLASS 12—SPECIFIC VINTAGE REDS—SHIRAZ—Reg 2
Davis Premium Vineyards - 2014
CLASS 13—OPEN VINTAGE REDS—Reg 2
Tintilla Estate - 2011 Shiraz
CLASS 17—2015 VINTAGE WHITES—SEMILLON—Reg 2
Two Rivers Wines
CLASS 18—2015 VINTAGE WHITES—CHARDONNAY—Reg 2
Pretty Dog Vineyard
CLASS 19—OPEN VINTAGE WHITES—SEMILLON—Reg 2
Tintilla Estate - 2009
CLASS 20—OPEN VINTAGE WHITES—CHARDONNAY—Reg 2
Elbourne Wines - 2012
CLASS 28—OPEN VINTAGE REDS—CABERNET SAUVIGNON
RidgeView Wines - 2011
CLASS 29—OPEN VINTAGE REDS—MERLOT
Intuition Wines (Hunter TAFE, Kurri Campus) - 2014
CLASS 30—OPEN VINTAGE REDS—VARIETALS
Ballabourneen Wine Company - 2014 Tempranillo
CLASS 32—CURRENT VINTAGE WHITES—VARIETALS
The Little Wine Company - 2016 Vermentino
CLASS 39—CHAMPAGNE STYLE - WHITE - METHODE CHAMPENOISE
Hunters Dream - 2014 Pinot Noir Chardonnay
