I follow New World’s annual wine awards with great interest. Entries are limited to wines with a retail price of $25 or less. Popular varieties must have at least 4,000 bottles for sale, and for “emerging” varieties the minimum entry requirement is 1,800 bottles. It’s a simple proposition: high quality, affordable and available.
Although the New World Wine Awards are essentially a commercial wine show, judging standards are similar to those in most Australasian wine shows. Entries are judged blind by 18 independent and professional wine judges, with the usual checks and balances.
Covid-19 turned the normally three-day event at one location into a 10-day marathon in three wine regions. My congratulations to the organisers for allowing the show to go on.
The New World website states, “A Gold medal wine in these awards is a superb example of its type and you can hold it to the same expectations as a Gold medal wine from other respected awards.” I disagree. In my experience, when you have a price ceiling, in this case $25, judges tend to be more generous with their scores.
Nonetheless, New World makes it easy to construct a wine shopping list from its Top 50 Gold Medal wines. And it really nailed it with its list of the overall champion wine from each of the 10 classes.
Here they are:
Two Rivers Convergence Sauvignon Blanc 2020, Marlborough, $19.99
Deliciously tangy, textural wine that may have benefited from a proportion being fermented in concrete eggs and amphorae.
Vidal Reserve Pinot Gris 2019, Hawke’s Bay, $14.99
Classic pinot gris hints of ripe, juicy pear and apple and subtle spice/anise flavours.
Church Road Chardonnay 2019, Hawke’s Bay, $14.99
No surprises here. Deliciously ripe peach and nectarine flavours with a seasoning of spicy oak.
Villa Maria Cellar Selection Dry Riesling 2018, Marlborough, $14.99
Bright, tangy riesling in an off/dry style with typical lime/citrus and subtle white flower flavours. Super value.
Mount Riley “The Bonnie” Pinot Rosé 2020, Marlborough, $12.99
A real charmer. Off/dry rosé with delicious summer fruits and gentle acidity.
Framingham Nobody’s Hero Pinot Noir 2019, Marlborough, $21.99
Rich, flavoursome pinot noir in a “drink me now” style.
The Hunting Lodge Expressions Lavish Merlot Malbec 2019, Hawke’s Bay, $18.99
Ripe plum and dark berry flavours with an attractive spicy undercurrent. Plenty of bang per buck.
Grant Burge 5th Generation Shiraz 2018, Barossa, $14.99
Full-bodied, powerful and yet luscious red in a classic Barossa style.
Lindauer Vintage Series Brut Cuvée 2017, $14.99
This is no ordinary Lindauer. Supremely elegant fizz.
De Bortoli Woodfired Cabernet Sauvignon 2019, Heathcote, Victoria, $18.99
Classic cabernet with cassis, fresh herbs and nutty oak flavours. Great now, better later.
The prices shown above will apply until November 8 this year. After that, the retail price may vary.
You can find the full list at New World Wines Awards.
Bob's top picks of the week
Investment Wine
Calvert Pinot Noir 2018, Central Otago, $63
First release of a new wine from an established vineyard on Felton Road that has supplied grapes to several producers including Felton Road, Craggy Range and Pyramid Valley. Felton Road continues to produce Calvert Pinot Noir. Tiny production, famous vineyard and first vintage – all of the key investment elements. Oh … and it tastes fabulous. You can purchase from Calvert Vineyard.
Weekend Wines
Top White
Church Road Chardonnay 2019, Hawke’s Bay, $14.99
This wine would be a good buy at twice this price. It has enough weight and richness to appeal to the “big and buttery” brigade and enough bright, punchy flavour to appeal to the rest of us. At $14.99 (the New World price), it’s a steal.
Top Red
Framingham Nobody’s Hero Pinot Noir 2019, Marlborough, $21.99
Framingham’s entry-level pinot noir is a stunning wine at a truly bargain price thanks in part to a cracker of a vintage. Super-stylish pinot noir that is drinking beautifully now but will continue to put a smile on your face for several more years.
Read more from Bob at therealreview.com
