The Lowestoft Estate – Single Vineyard Pinot Noir 2021, has come out on top after four days of judging at the Royal Queensland Wine Awards.
The Tasmanian Pinot beat 1430 wines from 212 Australian wineries to claim the Angelo Puglisi Grand Champion Wine of Show Trophy, and also claimed the Stodart Trophy Best Red Table Wine of Show, which is celebrating its 50th year of being awarded.
Chief Judge Tom Carson said selecting the top wine was a close call.
“This year we had nine red wines that were of outstanding quality and when we got to the end of Stodart Trophy judging we had three wines that were so close and so highly supported by the judges,” he said.
“The Pinot Noir just edged out the Grenache and the Touriga blend, but it was a hard-fought battle.
“Once we found the stunning pinot noir at the judging table, it rolled on through to Grand Champion.”
Speaking about the achievement, Lowestoft’s Chief Winemaker Liam McElhinney said: “The team and I are thrilled that our 2021 Lowestoft Single Vineyard Pinot Noir has achieved these extraordinary results. We are also humbled when we see the other gold medal wines we had to overcome to win these incredible trophies.
“Huge thanks must go to Paul Laing, our fantastic grower, who consistently delivers amazing Pinot Noir from his Coal River Valley vineyard. We’ve had a dream run with our Lowestoft Pinot Noir wines over the past six months and we’re really proud to be showcasing another epic and very unique southern Tasmanian vineyard site.”
Carson added that with the quality of the red wines in the show was extremely high.
“The emerging varieties and what’s happening in the blended red classes is really interesting.
“We found some smashing red blends and some people that are having a crack at non-traditional varieties and the quality of wine that is coming through those classes is so exciting – a lovely balance of purity and wines of real character.”
This year was the first time in two years the Royal Queensland Wine Awards had been able to go ahead in its full capacity due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
2022 TROPHY WINNERS
The Maldwyn and Ian Davies Best Sparkling Wine of Show
House of Arras – Blanc de Blancs 2014
Best Riesling Wine of Show
Jim Barry Wines – Watervale Riesling 2022
Best Semillon Wine of Show
Agnew Wines – Audrey Wilkinson The Ridge 2022
Best Sauvignon Blanc Wine of Show
Girraween Estate – 2022 Sauvignon Blanc
Best Pinot Gris / Grigio Wine of Show
Jacob’s Creek Classic Pinot Grigio 2021
The Fleming Trophy Best Chardonnay Wine of Show
Coldstream Hills – 2021 Deer Farm Chardonnay
Best White Varietal Wine of Show
Dalfarras Wines – 2022 Fiano
Best Sweet White Wine of Show
Lillypilly Wines – Lillypilly Noble Blend 2021
Best White Table Wine of Show
Coldstream Hills – 2021 Deer Farm Chardonnay
Best Rosé of Show
Bleasdale Vineyards – 2022 Rose
The Dr Bill Ryan Best Pinot Noir Wine of Show
Lowestoft Estate – 2021 Single Vineyard Pinot Noir
Best Grenache Wine of Show
Hentley Farm – The Old Legend Grenache 2021
Best Grenache Blend, Mourvedre , Carignan, Cinsault or Blend Wine of Show
Chapel Hill Winery – The Parson Grenache Shiraz Mourvedre 2021
Best Sangiovese , Montepulciano, Nero Davola, Barbera, Dolcetto, Nebbiolo or Blend Wine of Show
Sutton Grange Winery – 2021 Fairbank Sangiovese
The Wine Guild of Australia Inc (Queensland) Best Shiraz Wine Of Show
The Lane Vineyard – 2021 Provence Syrah
The Alan Cook Mbe Trophy Best Cabernet Sauvignon Wine of Show
Xanadu Wines – Xanadu Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
Best Cabernets, Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot and Blends
Jim Barry Wines – 2021 Expressions Malbec
Best Red Varietal Wine of Show
Heirloom Vineyards – 2021 McLaren Vale Touriga
Best Red Blend Wine of Show
Yarra Yering – 2021 Dry Red Wine No. 3
The Stodart Trophy Best Red Table Wine of Show
Lowestoft Estate – Single Vineyard Pinot Noir 2021
King Street Best Small Batch Wine of Show
Calabria Family Wines – 2020 Saint Petri Shiraz Carignan
Best Fortified Wine of Show
Morris Wines Old Premium Topaque
Treasury Brisbane Best Queensland Wine of Show Trophy
Girraween Estate – 2022 Sauvignon Blanc
The Angelo Puglisi Trophy Grand Champion Wine of Show Trophy
Lowestoft Estate – Single Vineyard Pinot Noir 2021