2012 Challenge Trophy Winners

Leconfield Wines has won one of Australia’s most prestigious wine awards, The 2012 Visy Great Australian Shiraz Challenge Trophy with its 2010 Richard Hamilton McLaren Vale Shiraz. For the first time in the history of the event, this wine was also awarded the Graphix Labels & Packaging Trophy for the Best Shiraz under $25.00.

Second place was awarded to Watershed Premium Wines, their 2010 Watershed Senses Shiraz.

Third place was awarded to Wirra Wirra Vineyards for their 2010 Woodhenge Shiraz.

The Graphix Labels & Packaging Trophy for Best Shiraz Under $25.00 was also awarded to Leconfield Wines 2010 Richard Hamilton Shiraz.

Winners were announced at a Gala Black Tie Dinner at the Historic Tahbilk Winery on Friday, 9th November.

A well-received number of 371 wines competed in the 18th Challenge with vintages ranging from 2002-2011 with 251 wines from SA, 66 from Vic, 13 from NSW, 40 from WA & 1 from ACT.

Trophy and medal results, 2 Trophies, 11 Golds, 62 Silvers & 193 Bronzes.

The 2012 Judging panel consisted of Gary Baldwin (Chairman), Sue Bell, Simon Osicka and Jeni Port.

Gary Baldwin – Chairman’s comments
This is my second year as chairman of judges at the Visy Great Shiraz Challenge and perhaps contrary to popular belief it doesn’t get easier to choose the best wines when you are faced with such an impressive array of wines from all over Australia. I would also like offer a very sincere vote of thanks to my three fellow judges. Their task was formidable, with almost 400 wines to taste in two and a half days and with a brief to select the best Australian Shiraz out of the pack.

As judges we were looking for wines that had strong or at the very least, expressive primary fruit, secondary characters such as oak and other artefacts could be part of the wine, provided they were in balance. We did not reward dead or over-ripe fruit, nor under-ripe or green fruit. Balance, harmony and ultimately, drinkability were seen as the key drivers in determining the top wines. The winner came from McLaren Vale, an area well recognised for Shiraz although in recent years has perhaps been recognised more the bigger richer and more alcoholic style. But smarter winemakers have started to harvest earlier and chase fruit integrity and finer flavours. They showed some lovely aromatic primary fruit and were too big or heavy, but had supple pleasing tannins.

Of some interest, the gold medal winners and finalists in the taste off for top wine were made up of two Margaret River wines, two from the Barossa one from McLaren Vale and the others were cross regional blends from South Australia.