The Tasting Panel magazine

Tasting Panel October 2010

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STEVEN SPURRIER’S LETTER FROM LONDON The Judgement of London World Wine Awards. From 4,500 entries in the 2004, exactly 10,983 wines were judged this year, making the DWWA the largest wine competition on the planet. Sixty-six percent received a Commended, Bronze or Silver Medal and 208 (2%) a Gold; 99 Regional Trophies were selected only from wines that have already won a Gold, and 24 International Trophies selected from these, with 14 from the Old World and 14 from the New. Argentina led the New World field with four O PHOTO: DECANTER Trophies: Bodegas Etchart 2009 Torrontés from Salta in the north won Dry Aromatic under £10, confirming this grape’s quality, and Domaine Vistalba 2008 Malbec-Syrah from Patagonia in the south won Red Blends under £10, while from the middle, Mendoza triumphed with Andeluna 2009 Malbec for Red Varietal under £10 and Finca Eugenio Bustos 2006 Malbec taking the over £10 slot. Seifried Sweet Agnes Riesling from New Zealand’s South Island Nelson region took the Sweet Wine over £10 Trophy for the second year, the other New Zealand award going to Schubert Block B Pinot Noir from Martinborough, where Pinots first gained recognition two decades ago. Chile cornered the Sauvignon Blanc Trophies, Viña Mayu Elqui Valley 2009 for under £10 and Casa Marin San Antonio Valley 2009 for over £10, while Cono Sur 2009 Riesling from the cool southern Bio-Bio Valley won Riesling under £10. South Africa proved its continuing suc- cess with Chenin Blanc by De Heuval Barrel Fermented 2009 from Swartland taking the White Single Variety over £10 Trophy and Cape Point Vineyards 2008, the country’s coolest vineyard, grabbing the White Blend over £10 gong. Finally, three stunning surprises from the New World, with Australia’s Cullen Kevin John 2007 Margaret River Chardonnay beating Grand Cru white Burgundies to gain Chardonnay over £10, Grant Burge 20 Year Old 22 / the tasting panel / october 2010 n September 1 at London’s Royal Opera House, Decanter held the Presentation Dinner for the Decanter Tawny from the Barossa dominating the high- est quality Ports and Madeiras to take Sweet Fortified over £10, and Clos du Val 2005 Stag’s Leap Cabernet once again proving Napa’s credentials by winning Red Bordeaux varietals over £10. France dominated the Old World with five Trophies, with only one—Albert Mann 2008 Schlossberg Riesling—being in the over £10 bracket. Château de Ligny 2008 Chablis took Chardonnay under £10, showing that a famous name doesn’t have to be expensive; the Languedoc’s Jean-Michel Bonfils 2008 won White Blends under £10; Famille Pouzin 2009 Côtes du Rhône-Villages Visan gained Red Rhône Varietals under £10 and Château Bouscasse 2005 Pacherenc de Vic-Bilh, hardly seen outside southwest France, won Sweet Wine under £10—all notable triumphs. Spain’s three unfortified Trophies were, unsurprisingly, all from the north, with Bodegas Palacio 2007 Rioja taking Red Spanish Varietals under £10, Bodegas Baigorri 2005 Rioja taking the over £10 slot and Casa Gran del Siurana 2006 Priorat winning the competi- tive Red Blends over £10, while Fernando de Castilla Palo Cortado took the Dry Fortified over £10 Trophy that their Amontillado won last year. Italy showed her variety with wines from the Veneto (Fattori Giovanni 2008 Soave for White Single Varietal under £10), Tuscany (Tenuta Vitanza Brunello di Montalcino 2004 for Red Italian Varietals over £10) and Puglia (Sampietrana 2006 Salice Salentino for Red Italian Varietal under £10). That left two Old World Trophies that proved without any doubt that if quality is your aim, the sky is the limit where recognition is con- cerned: Israel’s Carmel Valley 2006 Kayoumi Single Vineyard Shiraz saw off both the Rhône and Barossa Valleys to win Red Rhône Varietals over £10, and Ridgeview Grosvenor Blanc de Blancs 2006 from Sussex took the Trophy from the most classic and classy Vintage Champagnes for Sparkling Wine over £10. Such was the Judgement of London. C M Y CM MY CY CMY K

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