Mount Pleasant Mountain D Shiraz 2018 from the Hunter Valley has won NSW Wine of the Year as well as Best Shiraz of Show and Best Red Wine of Show at the NSW Wine Awards.
This is the second year running that Mount Pleasant has been awarded the trophy for Best in Show, following the success of Old Paddock & Old Hill Shiraz 2017 last year.
Mount Pleasant chief winemaker Adrian Sparks said, “We are over the moon with today’s result and full credit is due to the hardworking Mount Pleasant team who have dedicated so much of their time to creating magnificent wines that represent the unique landscapes of the Hunter Valley.
“Great vineyards are the first step in making great wines and we are fortunate to be the custodians of some of Australia’s finest. 2018 was a great year for both the Hunter Valley and for Mount Pleasant delivering wines that reflect the special vineyards they were sourced from.”
The awards continue a great show season for the Mount Pleasant team who recently took home 27 medals and trophies at thes Hunter Valley Wine Show including gold for Mountain D Shiraz 2018. In addition, Adrian Sparks was awarded the prestigious title of Hunter Valley Winemaker of the Year.
The Mount Pleasant portfolio has continued to evolve under Adrian, who is only the fifth person to hold the post in the winery’s 98-year history.
“The Mountain D Shiraz pays homage to Maurice O’Shea, his dedication nurturing the vineyards and his old ways of naming wines by style rather than variety,” Adrian says.
Chair of judges Dave Brookes said, “The line-up of trophy-winning wines has codified what those in the know already knew to be true: that NSW offers the consumer a sensational range of wine styles that play to the strengths and diversity of the state’s wine regions.
“New South Wales’ enviable purple patch of great vintages and world class winemaking offers wine drinkers outstanding wines that span the spectrum from precise, focused sparkling wines through to cellarworthy Shiraz and all bases in between.
“Many other Australian wine states should rightly be envious of New South Wales’ diversity and quality.”
Brookes reserved special praise for Mount Pleasant. “The quality and pedigree of this producer’s wine range was on full display again in this year’s wine awards,” he says.
“While pure-of-fruit and delicious today, this wine will also continue to improve for many years with careful cellaring and is a wine that is bound to delight fans of the medium-bodied Shiraz that the Hunter Valley is justly famous for.”
Orange continued to impress with fine sparkling, Riesling and Pinot Noir wines and, as expected, Semillon, Chardonnay and Shiraz from the Hunter Valley was excellent across the board.
The alternative varieties continued to wow the judges and in 2019, the NSW Wine Awards introduced an ‘innovation’ class to highlight ‘lo-fi’ wines that provide delicious drinking and introduce consumers to new styles of wine that skirt the edges of the traditional fine wine narrative.
The Graham Gregory Award for services to the NSW wine industry was presented to John Casella.
John said, “It is an honour to accept this award and join other distinguished individuals in our industry. It is also beautifully timed as this year our family celebrates 50 years in the wine business.
“When I first started studying winemaking at Charles Sturt University, I remember being disappointed that I wasn’t based in one of the big wine regions of the time, like the Barossa or McLaren Vale, but now I realise that the best thing my father ever did was settle in Griffith, New South Wales.”
Full list of trophy winners…
Australia Post Trophy for Best Riesling
Tamburlaine Organic Wines 2019 Riesling (Orange)
NSW DPI Trophy for Best Semillon
McGuigan 2018 Shortlist Semillon (Hunter Valley)
ICC Sydney Trophy for Best Pinot Gris/Grigio
De Bortoli 2019 La Bossa Pinot Grigio (Riverina)
Nexia Australia Trophy for Best Chardonnay
First Creek Wines 2018 Winemaker’s Reserve Chardonnay (Hunter)
CSU Trophy for Best Other White Varieties
Tulloch Wines 2019 Cellar Door Release Vermentino (Orange)
Australia Post Trophy for Best Light Red
Margan 2019 Rose and Bramble (Hunter Valley)
ICC Sydney Trophy for Best Pinot Noir
Philip Shaw Wines 2018 No.08 Pinot Noir (Orange)
Finlaysons Trophy for Best Shiraz
Mount Pleasant Wines 2018 Mountain D Shiraz (Hunter Valley)
Riedel Trophy for Best Cabernet Sauvignon
McWilliam’s Wines 2018 660 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (Hilltops)
MultiColor Trophy for Best Other Red Varieties
Tamburlaine Organic Wines 2018 Reserve Malbec (Orange)
Nexia Australia Trophy for Best Red Blend
Tyrrell’s Vineyards 2018 Vat 8 Shiraz Cabernet (Hunter Valley)
NSW DPI Trophy for Best Organic Wine
Tamburlaine Organic Wines 2019 Riesling (Orange)
NSW Wine 1828 Innovation Trophy
Gilbert 2019 Pet Nat Riesling (Orange)
Chair of Judges Trophy for Best Hilltops Wine
Ballinaclash 2018 Ned Touriga (Hilltops)
Canon Trophy for Best Sparkling Wine
Printhie Wines NV Swift Rose #3 (Orange)
ICC Sydney Trophy for Best Sweet Wine
Cookoothama 2016 Darlington Point Botrytis Semillon (Riverina)
Orora Trophy for Best Dry White
First Creek Wines 2018 Winemaker’s Reserve Chardonnay (Hunter Valley)
CCL Trophy for Best Dry Red
Mount Pleasant Wines 2018 Mountain D Shiraz (Hunter Valley)
NSW Governor’s Trophy for Best in Show
Mount Pleasant Wines 2018 Mountain D Shiraz (Hunter Valley)
Recent Comments