5 minute read
Trophy-winning wines of the Mornington Peninsula
The Mornington Peninsula Wine Show trophies were crafted and designed by artists at Gordon Studio Glassblowers.
The Mornington Peninsula Wine Show is an annual event dedicated to rewarding the exceptional work of the region’s winemakers and sharing the Peninsula’s best wines of the year. After a difficult 12 months of lockdowns, intense weather and the challenge of managing life in a pandemic, it was fantastic for the community to come together again at Pt Leo Estate in November and take time to taste a selection of the gold medal-winning wines from the 2021 show.
Eight trophies were awarded across classes from sparkling to dessert, including reds, whites, and the Peninsula’s signature chardonnays and pinot noirs. The chardonnay and pinot noir wines presented and recognised by the awards were the highlight of the show, with Yabby Lake winning the Chardonnay Provenance Trophy and Ten Minutes by Tractor taking out the Pinot Noir Provenance Trophy.
The wines of provenance showcase the quality and consistency of Peninsula chardonnay and pinot noir over the years. Chief judge David Bicknell said these wines provided memorable moments for the judges and demonstrated how the Peninsula produces wines with impressive “ageability”.
“The Pinot Noir Provenance award could have gone two or three ways,” David said. “It was a close-run class that created lots of discussion among the judges about vintage variation and wine selection. In the end we went with the bravery of the producer to only show mature wines – Ten Minutes by Tractor. The wines were from 2010, 2012 and 2016, all mature, balanced and telling
Best Pinot Noir Award Trophy winner Paringa Estate. Father and son, Lindsay and Jamie McCall accept the award from Saint Martin.
Pinot Noir Provenance Award Trophy winner Ten Minutes By Tractor. Imogen Dillon accepts the award from Johan Ahlberg of MCC Labels. Best Chardonnay Wine Trophy winner Montalto. Simon Black accepts the award from Emily Camorra of Riedel Australia.
Best Sparkling Wine Trophy winner Portsea Estate. Matthew Lugg accepts the award from Kane Chandler of Orora Glass.
TROPHY-WINNING WINES of the mornington peninsula
continued from page 143 the story of the season in which they were grown. They were clearly from the same place and the same producer.” Yabby Lake won the Chardonnay Provenance Trophy with the 2011, 2014 and 2017 Single Vineyard Chardonnay, which David said was a clever entry because each wine came from cooler growing seasons, reinforcing the sense of place and maker. “The wines were pristine, elegant and complex, with length to burn. Brilliant wines; the essence of cool-climate chardonnay.” The sparkling wine class was also impressive, with fewer entries but with the trophy going to a standout wine in the 2017 Portsea Estate Traditional Method Sparkling. There was a great spread of trophy winners this year, with the 2021 Crittenden Estate Peninsula Pinot Gris taking the trophy for Best Pinot Grigio/ Pinot Gris.
Best White Varietal or Blend went to the 2018 Foxeys Hangout Late Harvest Pinot Gris, which the judges noted had a good depth of flavour and was beautifully balanced.
The 2019 Montalto The Eleven Single Vineyard Chardonnay was the winner of Best Chardonnay, which proved a challenging variety with a lot of variation between the 2020 and 2019 vintages. The pinot noir class presented the same challenge, David describing it as the tale of two vintages with 2020 being a much cooler year than the 2019 vintage. The winner was the 2020 Paringa Estate Robinson Vineyard Pinot Noir. The Best Red Varietal or Blend was won by the 2019 Yabby Lake Single Vineyard Shiraz, which outclassed the other entries because of the notable balance between the fruit, oak and acidity. But it was the 2010, 2012 and 2016 Ten Minutes by Tractor McCutcheon Vineyard that stole the hearts of the judges this year alongside the 2011, 2014 and 2017 Yabby Lake Single Vineyard Chardonnay. Pt Leo Estate was the perfect setting for the awards, with its views of the Southern Ocean reminding everyone of the significant influence the maritime climate has on the flavours and styles of Peninsula wines.
Mornington Peninsula Wine CEO Olivia Barrie said it was wonderful to see a room full of joyful faces and to take time out together after a difficult year. "We haven't seen each other in so long and we are blessed to have so many amazing people contribute to our industry here on the Mornington Peninsula," Olivia said.
The 2021 Mornington Peninsula Wine Show trophies were designed by Peninsula artists from Gordon Studio Glassblowers, making it a distinctly Mornington Peninsula occasion for celebration.
2021 TROPHY winners
Best Pinot Grigio/Pinot Gris 2021 Crittenden Estate Peninsula Pinot Gris
Best Red Varietal or Blend 2019 Yabby Lake Single Vineyard Shiraz
Chardonnay Provenance Award 2011, 2014, 2017 Yabby Lake Single Vineyard Chardonnay
Pinot Noir Provenance Award 2010, 2012, 2016 Ten Minutes by Tractor McCutcheon Vineyard
Judging took place on Tuesday, 9 November at Pt Leo Estate.
The judging team included: David Bicknell (Chief Judge), Simon Steele, Steve Flamsteed, Tom Carson, Sarah Fagan, Marcus Satchell, Matt Harrop, Jonathon Mattick, Xavier Vigier, Isabelle Agnes and Chris Strickland.
PICTURED clockwise from top left: Best Pinot Gris, Pinot Grigio Award Trophy winner Crittenden Estate. Rollo Crittenden accepts the award from Tim Sankey of Portavin. Best Red Varietal Award Trophy winner Yabby Lake. Tom Carson accepts the award from Julie Mason of Vintessential.
Pt Leo Estate hosted the Mornington Wine Show Lunch for 2021. Chief Judge, David Bicknell delivers his annual address. Chief Judge David Bicknell celebrates the outcomes of the 2021 Mornington Peninsula Wine Show with Show Chair, Lindsay McCall.
