Wow - there are some seriously nice wines in that bronze medal list, including 2 of NZ's best chardonnays in Riflemans and Clearview Reserve, plus the 2006 Cornerstone which IIRC was the 6th best in the Bordeaux vs Gimblett Gravels tasting in London.
All this lot got bronzes! Perhaps I should only buy bronze medal winning wines from now on.... ??
Church Road Reserve Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2007 Clearview Reserve Chardonnay 2007 Sacred Hill Riflemans Chardonnay 2007 Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2007 Villa Maria Reserve Marlborough Chardonnay 2007 Villa Maria Single Vineyard Keltern Chardonnay 2007 Mt Difficulty Target Gully Riesling 2008 Forrest Estate Botrytised Riesling 2007 CJ Pask Declaration Cabernet Merlot Malbec 2005 Esk Reserve Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon Malbec 2006 Newton Forrest Cornerstone 2006 Villa Maria Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2006 Villa Maria Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2007 Villa Maria Reserve Merlot 2005 Villa Maria Reserve Merlot 2006 Vidal Hawkes Bay Soler Syrah 2005 Vidal Reserve Syrah 2005 Villa Maria Reserve Syrah 2007 Lowburn Ferry Central Otago Pinot Noir 2007 Villa Maria Single Vineyard Seddon Pinot Noir 2007 Wild Earth Central Otago Pinot Noir 2007
Church Road Reserve Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2007 Clearview Reserve Chardonnay 2007 Sacred Hill Riflemans Chardonnay 2007 Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels Hawkes Bay Chardonnay 2007 Villa Maria Reserve Marlborough Chardonnay 2007 Villa Maria Single Vineyard Keltern Chardonnay 2007 Mt Difficulty Target Gully Riesling 2008 Forrest Estate Botrytised Riesling 2007 CJ Pask Declaration Cabernet Merlot Malbec 2005 Esk Reserve Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon Malbec 2006 Newton Forrest Cornerstone 2006 Villa Maria Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2006 Villa Maria Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2007 Villa Maria Reserve Merlot 2005 Villa Maria Reserve Merlot 2006 Vidal Hawkes Bay Soler Syrah 2005 Vidal Reserve Syrah 2005 Villa Maria Reserve Syrah 2007 Lowburn Ferry Central Otago Pinot Noir 2007 Villa Maria Single Vineyard Seddon Pinot Noir 2007 Wild Earth Central Otago Pinot Noir 2007
Yip agree, most of those are more gold quality (im not a big fan of the new Villa Reserve Merlot's but that aside). I know sue says shows arent lotteries, and im not doubting the care that goes into judging them but hard to make definative judgements across a couple of days
Reputations are built over years, and although there is always some inertia associated with 'reputation', it is a far better guide for me. This is even aside from the fact that most wineries with 'reputations' don't bother entering shows. You could argue of course that reputation is built by many things including show success. However, no one will convince me that villa private bin merlot cab is better than say coleraine (although it isnt a bad wine - i have tried it next to their reserve syrahs etc...needless to say it was forgotten)
The most eye raising show result was once I think it was LL top 100 10 years ago. Silver medals for both Lindemans Porphyry Sauternes and Chateau Yquem were dished out. It inspired a "silver medal combo pack" to be offered at a wine shop in Hamilton. The sign said "Buy one, get one free. Guess which one you have to buy". Classic
Follow me on Vivino for tasting notes Craig Thomson
Craig(NZ) wrote:2007 Villa Private Bin Merlot Cab - Gold 2007 Villa Reserve Cab Merlot - Bronze
Drink young style does well in competition shock
The PB is immediately quaffable, while the reserve has much more structure. This is all I can imagine led to the medals. However, you would like to think that a show judge had the experience to recognise that the reserve had the better concentration, palate weight and complexity wouldn't you? Apparently not. I suspect the problem lies in tasting so many wines, and so many different styles that it gets to the point where an "easy drinker" really hits the spot!
FWIW only a few years ago I followed show results with some interest. I now pay them no attention when it comes to making purchases. I pay much more attention to individual critical opinion.
Check out theses bronze winners from the 2009 Sydney Show
Bronze 1 KRONDORF TANUNDA SA 5352
KRONDORF SYMMETRY BAROSSA VALLEY CABERNET SAUVIGNON v. 2006
Bronze 6 CHATEAU REYNELLA REYNELLA SA 5161
CHATEAU REYNELLA CABERNET SAUVIGNON v. 2006
Bronze 9 SHINGLEBACK WINE PTY LTD MC LAREN VALE SA 5171
SHINGLEBACK D BLOCK MC LAREN VALE CABERNET SAUVIGNON v. 2006
Bronze 11 LANGMEIL WINERY TANUNDA SA 5352
BLACKSMITH CABERNET SAUVIGNON v. 2006
Bronze 13 JACOB'S CREEK WINES ROWLAND FLAT SA 5352
JACOB'S CREEK ST HUGO COONAWARRA CABERNET SAUVIGNON v. 2006
Bronze 14 RICHMOND GROVE WINES ROWLAND FLAT SA 5352
RICHMOND GROVE LIMITED RELEASE COONAWARRA CABERNET SAUVIGNON v. 2006
Bronze 15 LEASINGHAM REYNELLA SA 5161
LEASINGHAM CLASSIC CLARE CABERNET v. 2006
Bronze 16 PEPPER TREE WINES POKOLBIN NSW 2320
PEPPER TREE STRANDLINES GRAND RESERVE WRATTONBULLY CABERNET SHIRAZ v. 2006
Bronze 18 PENFOLDS WINES PTY LTD NURIOOTPA SA 5355
PENFOLDS BIN 707 CABERNET SAUVIGNON v. 2006
Bronze 26 HOUGHTON REYNELLA SA 5161
CROFTERS CABERNET MALBEC v. 2006
Bronze 27 MC WILLIAM'S WINES PTY LTD HANWOOD NSW 2680
MC WILLIAMS 1877 v. 2006
Bronze 29 NEAGLES ROCK VINEYARDS CLARE SA 5453
NEAGLES ROCK ONE BLACK DOG RESERVE CABERNET SHIRAZ v. 2006
Bronze 31 B3 WINES KENT TOWN SA 5071
B3 PAULINE CABERNET SHIRAZ v. 2006
Bronze 33 PETER LEHMANN WINES TANUNDA SA 5352
MENTOR v. 2005
Bronze 37 YARRA BURN REYNELLA SA 5161
YARRA BURN CABERNET SAUVIGNON v. 2005
Bronze 38 CAPE MENTELLE MARGARET RIVER WA 6285
CAPE MENTELLE CABERNET SAUVIGNON v. 2005
Bronze 41 GRANT BURGE WINES TANUNDA SA 5352
GRANT BURGE WINES CABERNET MERLOT PETIT VERDOT v. 2005
Bronze 42 WYNDHAM ESTATE ROWLAND FLAT SA 5352
GEORGE WYNDHAM CABERNET MERLOT v. 2005
Bronze 48 NEPENTHE WINES HAHNDORF SA 5245
NEPENTHE 'THE ROGUE' v. 2005
Bronze 57 VOYAGER ESTATE PTY LTD COTTESLOE WA 6911
VOYAGER ESTATE CABERNET SAUVIGNON MERLOT v. 2004
Bronze 58 BLUE PYRENEES ESTATE AVOCA VIC 3467
BLUE PYRENEES RESERVE RED v. 2004
From
CLASS: 51 Cabernet Sauvignon or Cabernet Sauvignon blends, containing not less than 50% Cabernet Sauvignon
Apparently not. I suspect the problem lies in tasting so many wines, and so many different styles that it gets to the point where an "easy drinker" really hits the spot!
Agree. I find it difficult enough to honestly and completely rank 10 wines of a similar style from a blind line up. Going back through a line up opinions change, wines change, favourites change in the glass and evolve.
Much better to form an opinion over many years/ many vintages at various stages of development than pretend its possible in one sitting no matter how talented and experienced the judging panel is.
Think of it as NZ playing Aussie in cricket. In any one match NZ may get up and win but we all know which team has the most overall class which shines through on more occassions than not.
Palates also tire no matter what tricks you put in place to minimise this. I have done WineNZ for 9 years now and experience has dictated to me it iis best to just go and try the icons you are interested in instead of destroying the palate by attempting to try as many as possible
Follow me on Vivino for tasting notes Craig Thomson
I tried this one at Xmas whilst on holiday in Auckland. If I understand your note correctly, I struggle to see how it could have been awarded gold. I thought so little of it, I see I didn't even make any notes on it. Silver yes, gold not really.
Actually come to think of it you might be right. I have tried it a two or three of times. The time it showed best was winenz...my note below but I actually remember too being underwelmed the first couple of times i tried it. think the 2004 was better. I did like the 2006 version though which scored a bronze. I didnt buy any which could be a good indication. The below notes from a couple of times i was impressed with it (wine nz 2008 and 2007)
2005 Esk Valley Reserve Merlot Malbec Cabernet Franc. This is the same vintage shown last year. I think the 2005 is considered by most as a weaker vintage for this stellar wine. The fact no Terraces was produced perhaps indicates the on paper quality for Esk Valley. However a year on this wine is looking very good. It is now a creamy, complex red fruited wine with soft all encompassing coating tannins looking really interesting. Perhaps it wont live as long as bigger vintages but the quality of this wine is evident. $55 96/109
2005 Esk Valley Reserve Merlot Malbec Cabernet Franc. Deep black fruits ripple through the palate as we expect from this super rich label. Warm fine tannins provide some good structure and the palate length is more good news. However I am under the impression that the 2004 version is actually a better wine. Still we rate this one highly at 95/109. No doubt it will get sick on medals over the next few months as per usual
Follow me on Vivino for tasting notes Craig Thomson
Sad thing was I really wanted to like the wine. A old friend of mine has just become a director on the VM board and I was catching up with him later in the week for a BBQ. I therefore thought it would be noice if I tried one of their better wines ahead of the dinner so that we chat about it. In the end I politely omitted to mention it rather than share my view with him. Ended up discussing their Talyor Pass PN which I really do like.
Why would we think wine judging is an exact science. It is far from that. Thats why I think scoring out of 100 is futile. Its like saying well i gave the wine 94 points and someone else gave it 91 and commenting there is inconcistancy.
Why would we think wine judging is an exact science. It is far from that. Thats why I think scoring out of 100 is futile. Its like saying well i gave the wine 94 points and someone else gave it 91 and commenting there is inconcistancy.
yeah but you dont have that problem when you score out of 109 points!!
Sad thing was I really wanted to like the wine. A old friend of mine has just become a director on the VM board and I was catching up with him later in the week for a BBQ. I therefore thought it would be noice if I tried one of their better wines ahead of the dinner so that we chat about it. In the end I politely omitted to mention it rather than share my view with him. Ended up discussing their Talyor Pass PN which I really do like.
The esk reserve is probably the best performing red wine label in shows on average and it is a lovely wine. the 98 version is close to the best 98 I have tried at this stage in time. Yes the 05 isn't the best vintage out but as a label it is a strong wine. Taylors Pinot is definitely the best pinot villa does imo (im not generally a huge fan of their pinot or chardonnay)
Follow me on Vivino for tasting notes Craig Thomson
