Forum Poll #2: Winery of the Year

[sjw_11]

Well there seems to be some call in the Halliday 2014 Winery of the Year thread to have our own Auswine vote for whether Penfolds is indeed the worthy winner or whether someone else should be elevated to the podium...

So I propose the Forum's 2nd poll, you will recall the first, to discover the Best Quality to Value Ratio Winery was won convincingly by Tahbilk.

In this poll, we are seeking simply WINERY OF THE YEAR 2013 (I refuse to do Halliday's thing of dating it for next year!)

The criteria in my view should be:
- Australian winery from any region
- That has produced in the past 12-mths the most consistently super-high quality set of wines
- Covering a broad range of styles, including at a minimum both white and red wines of high quality

Price is no factor! As per the previous poll, the voting is done by 3 winery votes per person... just post a reply with your top 3 picks

[tarija]

1. Yarra Yering, for me.

In a rubbish 2011 vintage on the Australian east coast, their wines - across the board - were excellent. Highly rated by Halliday as well, and I enjoyed them a lot when I tasted at cellar door. Couldn't believe they could make such good/elegant wines in such a poor vintage. Cab blend, shiraz blend, touriga nacional + other portuguese varietals blend, straight shiraz, a few whites, a nebbiolo/barbera blend, etc. I would have bought a lot, except that I'm sure that they'll be available for cheap at auction due to vintage bias.

2 and 3 - let's say Bass Phillip (best-ever rated Aust table wine by JH, best rated 2 Aust pinot noirs, top chards) and Penfolds.

[sjw_11]

Polymer, I am going to post your vote here on your behalf:

Michael: I don't really have a winery of the year that would fall under what would be normal considerations basing it on just this last years releases...but right now my favorites are:
Wendouree
Lethbridge
Tyrrells - This is really the only one that could be considered (and I think they've won it as well) and as big of a shop as they are...I really enjoy their Four Acres/Johnnos/Old Patch/Vat9 Shiraz and Vat 1...plus they have a bunch of other good options Shiraz and Semillon wise...

[sjw_11]

For my vote:
1. Rockford... really good set of wines this year, and I like that despite being famous for Shiraz they do a lovely riesling, an interesting semillon and an often good Alicante ...
2. Meerea Park... a good range of typical hunter wines.. not happy with the pricing of their top tier, but as I said price is no factor today and I highly rate their semillon and shiraz, the two key HV bellwhethers
3. Grosset ... Can he make a bad wine? I also give big ticks to the fact his recent "bandwagon" wine (an off dry riesling) is absolutely superb and kicks the pants off every other Aussie attempt at this I have tried.

[phillisc]

YY, Noons, Bests

Great thing about wine it is subjective.
CD expereince, winery personnel, range, quality, longevity, go about it quietly unassumably no bullshit flair or spin drs, and all have an X factor....these three have it in spades

However great thing about opinon of winery of the year is it is objective, unlike critics who never put the hand in the pocket "if you pay you say!!

Cheers
Craig

[Scotty vino]

my three would be;

1.Grosset
2.Greenock creek
3.Crabtree

[Rossco]

1. Vasse Felix
2. David Franz
3. Tahbilk

[Mike Hawkins]

1. Henschke - their reds are always good, but the various 2012 rieslings are superb.
2. Rockford - excellent across the board, especially the 2010 reds
3. Grosset - great 2012 rieslings, pretty good reds.

[Phil H]

Looking at previous winners by Haliday..
2009 - Brookland Valley, 2010 - Tyrrells, 2011- Larry Cherubino, 2012 - Kooyong & Port Phillip Estate, 2013 - Kilakanoon,

My Vote:
Peter Lehmann
Great Range of Wines, Consistent, Value for Money, Widely Available ,Acknowledgement and memory of Peter for his contribution to the wine world.

[Matt]

Tscharke gets my vote with his stunning Marananga cab (2010). His other atypical varietals do well too!

[Panda 9D]

I'll second Tscharke with his brilliant BGC range, a phenomenal 2011 'Garnacha' and a very worthwhile experiment with his 2012 'Naturalis' Savignin which took the grape to places few thought it could reach. I do have a business connection but he really does get my vote.

[daz]

Take your pick:

Forest Hill Vineyard
Tahbilk
Mt Langi Ghiran
Seppelt Victoria

[sjw_11]

Any more votes people?? I know there are more people lurking out there in the forum!! What a great time to post your first contribution...

[tpang]

Another vote for Damien Tscharke. In addition to great wines, it's good effort to meet customers by running that interactive dinner.

My other votes go to Torbreck and Cullen.

[Luke W]

Rockford - stunning reds
Tahbilk - particularly their premiums
Penfolds - can't go past the sheer class and longevity of their wines

[dave vino]

Rockford
Wendouree
Mt Langi

[ticklenow1]

Rockford - stunning wines this year. Best ever.
Ballycroft - 2010 was very good to Joe. Only 4 wines but all were absolutely stunning.
Paringa Estate - So impressed with their range this year. The Estate Pinot made me realise how good Pinot can be, so deserves a vote from a Shiraz/Grenache drinker.

Many others could have made my list and honourable mentions to Gomersal, Head, Marius and Burge Family.

Cheers
Ian

[sjw_11]

This is running close but one winery has slipped into a slight lead... Im not going to say (you can obviously work it out) but dont want to influence the process!... keep the votes coming...

[TravisW]

Cullen.

[mjs]

Agree that Damien Tscharke is doing some great stuff with his Barossa Grounds wines, had a great visit there last year. Love his cabernet and his other varietals.

To be honest, I dont really have that much of a problem with Penfolds. They make wines that I really treasure drinking at 15-20+ years of age more so than any other label (eg special bin reds, even though they are a bit exxy)

From the last couple of CD visits in the previous twelve months, my current choice would be Katnook. Really impressed with the quality of the reds across several varietals and they make some good whites. Love drinking their reds with about ten years age on them

However, I do admit to entering a guilty plea against charges of being totally one eyed in relation to Coonawarra. Been going there for over forty years now and still love it. A couple of other labels there would also come a close second for me. Rather than a cellar palate, is there such a thing as a region palate??

[phillisc]

Agree that Damien Tscharke is doing some great stuff with his Barossa Grounds wines, had a great visit there last year. Love his cabernet and his other varietals.

To be honest, I dont really have that much of a problem with Penfolds. They make wines that I really treasure drinking at 15-20+ years of age more so than any other label (eg special bin reds, even though they are a bit exxy)

From the last couple of CD visits in the previous twelve months, my current choice would be Katnook. Really impressed with the quality of the reds across several varietals and they make some good whites. Love drinking their reds with about ten years age on them

However, I do admit to entering a guilty plea against charges of being totally one eyed in relation to Coonawarra. Been going there for over forty years now and still love it. A couple of other labels there would also come a close second for me. Rather than a cellar palate, is there such a thing as a region palate??

Malcolm, do not think there is anything wrong at all with a region palate. 25% or more of my wine comes from Coonawarra and that is from 6 or less producers.
There are those here who have a hankering for Italian reds, NZ Pinots, French sparklers etc etc.
Then there are those who have an obession with a number of other whites and reds that I do not have a single bottle of.

Nothing wrong with Pennies apart from the price. I just hope that the chains can keep doing them over so we get some sort of relief from the absolute rubbish RRPs.
If they were smart and they would know to the cent what their wines are selling for, this would be their CD price as well. It would be a boon for tourism to wine areas, keep people in a job and would restore confidence in the product.
I can not afford to buy Magill at $130, St Henri at near $100 and Bin 28 at 30 plus...obviously there are those who can

I laugh my head off with the cynicism and contempt that this company has for australian buyers...reinforced when Gago states in last weekend's Oz that Pennies most important markets are US, UK and Australia...could have fooled me.

Cheers
Craig

[sjw_11]

Agree that Damien Tscharke is doing some great stuff with his Barossa Grounds wines, had a great visit there last year. Love his cabernet and his other varietals.

To be honest, I dont really have that much of a problem with Penfolds. They make wines that I really treasure drinking at 15-20+ years of age more so than any other label (eg special bin reds, even though they are a bit exxy)

Mjs was this a vote for Tscharke and Penfolds... plus "the entire Coonawarra"? Would you care to single out a Coonawarra producer at least?

[mjs]

Agree that Damien Tscharke is doing some great stuff with his Barossa Grounds wines, had a great visit there last year. Love his cabernet and his other varietals.

To be honest, I dont really have that much of a problem with Penfolds. They make wines that I really treasure drinking at 15-20+ years of age more so than any other label (eg special bin reds, even though they are a bit exxy)

Mjs was this a vote for Tscharke and Penfolds... plus "the entire Coonawarra"? Would you care to single out a Coonawarra producer at least?

Thought I singled out Katnook as my winery of choice, maybe that didn't come across strongly enough

Tscharke did get the Maralinga (sic) Award for best shiraz of the weekend (actually given for the Stonewell Vineyards Cabernet, go figure ) from our group's second annual Barossa tour (B2) last year, but that's another story!! B4 in Sept, can't wait.

[sjw_11]

Mjs was this a vote for Tscharke and Penfolds... plus "the entire Coonawarra"? Would you care to single out a Coonawarra producer at least?

Thought I singled out Katnook as my winery of choice, maybe that didn't come across strongly enough

Sorry! I should learn to read!

[mjs]

don't worry about reading, its the drinking that you need to be proficient in

[mjs]

I can not afford to buy Magill at $130, St Henri at near $100 and Bin 28 at 30 plus...obviously there are those who can

Can't afford it either, but I did get my arm twisted to buy a couple of 2010 Bin 169 last week. Put them away for a decade or so for a significant birthday, assuming I get that far

[Nick]

Primo Estate
Hoddles Creek
Ochota Barrels

[bdellabosca]

Rockford
Cape Mentelle
McWilliams Mount Pleasant

[sjw_11]

I will keep this poll open until Sunday and then post the winner... come on I am sure there are more lurkers out there even if you just want to nominate one favourite winery!

[via collins]

Tahbilk
Hoddles Creek
Teusner