After two days of tasting by a panel of 17 independent judges, 49 Marlborough wines have been awarded Gold Medals at The 2020 Marlborough Wine Show.
The largest regional wine show in New Zealand, the 2020 awards attracted a total of 604 wines, including 10 from students of NMIT and 69 entered into the Legacy Award.
Chief Judge Ben Glover says the quality of the wines entered was outstanding.
“They were pretty awesome to be honest, off the back of two excellent years, 2019 and 2020,” he says.
The varietal gaining the most Gold Medals was Pinot Noir, with 12 awarded to wines produced in 2019.
“These would be some of the very best Pinots to come out of Marlborough,” says Glover.
“All very stylish and diverse, showing the true character of Marlborough and its sub-regions. They had a lovely nuance and subtlety, and are quite refined. Quite stunning.”
This year’s Sauvignon Blanc also excited the judges, Glover says, with nine Golds awarded.
“The Sauvignon Blancs were especially exceptional from the 2020 vintage, and are a credit to the winemakers and vineyard managers that had to work through some tough circumstances, given the COVID-19 lockdown.”
Glover says he was also impressed with the large number of wines entered into the Legacy Award, which is judged on three wines of the same variety, produced within a 10-year period. In total there were 23 entries, encompassing 69 wines.
“This was an extremely impressive class and it would be great to see even more of these wines as they really show what Marlborough can do.”
With 49 Golds awarded, Glover says another 130 wines were given Silver Medals and 236 wines received a Bronze.
Marlborough Wine Show Varietal Trophies, along with the Marlborough Museum Legacy Award and The Coterie Provenance Award, will be announced at the Celebration Long Lunch, being held on October 30.
The Board of Wine Marlborough will also present a Lifetime Achievement Award to a member of the Marlborough wine industry for their contribution to and promotion of the region’s wine industry.
The Gold Medal-winning wines are:
Deutz Prestige 2017
Mumm Marlborough Prestige Cuvee NV
Lawson’s Dry Hills Sauvignon Blanc 2020
Two Rivers Convergence Sauvignon Blanc 2020
Russian Jack Sauvignon Blanc 2020
Dashwood Sauvignon Blanc 2020
Saint Clair Wairau Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 2020
Rohe Dillions Point Sauvignon Blanc 2020
Saint Clair Origin Sauvignon Blanc 2020
Grove Mill Sauvignon Blanc 2020
Villa Maria Reserve Clifford Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2020
Wither Hills Rarangi Sauvignon Blanc 2019
Stoneleigh Rapaura Series Sauvignon Blanc 2019
Windrush Organic Sauvignon Blanc 2019
Stoneleigh Latitude Chardonnay 2019
Isabel Estate Marlborough Wild Barrique Chardonnay 2019
Isabel Estate Marlborough Chardonnay 2019
Villa Maria Single Vineyard Taylors Pass Chardonnay 2018
Wairau River Wines Estate Pinot Gris 2020
Isabel Estate Marlborough Pinot Gris 2020
Zephyr Pinot Gris 2019
Saint Clair Godfrey’s Creek Reserve Pinot Gris 2018
Villa Maria Private Bin Marlborough Riesling 2020
Orchard Lane Riesling 2020
Wairau River Wines Estate Summer Riesling 2020
Two Rivers Juliet Riesling 2020
Johanneshof Cellars Gewürztraminer 2019
Awatere River Late Harvest Gewürztraminer 2018
Villa Maria Reserve Marlborough Noble Riesling Botrytis Selection 2018
Wairau River Wines Reserve Albarino 2020
Saint Clair Pioneer Block 5 Bull Block Gruner Veltliner 2020
Boatshed Bay Pinot Noir 2019
Grove Mill Pinot Noir 2019
The Ned Pinot Noir 2019
Windrush Organic Pinot Noir 2019
Huntaway Reserve Pinot Noir 2019
Saint Clair James Sinclair Pinot Noir 2019
Saint Clair Pioneer Block 22 Barn Block Pinot Noir 2019
Leefield Station Pinot Noir 2019
Mount Riley 17 Valley Pinot Noir 2019
Saint Clair Pioneer Block 5 Bull Block Pinot Noir 2019
Tupari Pinot Noir 2019
Vavasour Pinot Noir 2019
Nautilus Clay Hills Pinot Noir 2017
The Wrekin Needles Eye 2015
Mount Riley Marlborough Syrah 2019
Mount Riley “The Bonnie” Pinot Rosé 2020
Mud House Sub Region Series Burleigh Rosé 2020
Kōparepare Marlborough Pinot Noir Rosé 2020
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