Western Australian Winery Wins Jimmy Watson Trophy

A boutique winery in Margaret River has won the Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy, awarded at the 2016 Royal Melbourne Wine Awards. Deep Woods Estate received the accolade for its 2014 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, marking the first time in six years since a cabernet has won the coveted trophy.

The same cabernet also won the trophy for Best Cabernet Sauvignon of the show.

Punt Road in Victoria was also among successful wineries this year, receiving three trophies including The Kym Ludvigsen Trophy for Viticultural Excellence. The award was given to the winery’s Tim Shand.

Punt Road also picked up The Trevor Mast Trophy for Best Shiraz and The Douglas Seabrook Single Vineyard Trophy with its Napoleone Vineyard 2015 Shiraz.

The Royal Melbourne Wine Awards are Australia’s premier wine awards and are now over 130 years old. Conducted by the Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria, the awards give producers the opportunity to benchmark their wines against industry standards.

This year’s Chair of Judges was Tom Carson from Yabby Lake. Carson and 36 other industry experts judged over 3,100 entries this year.

“The Royal Melbourne Wine Awards are Australia’s largest and most prestigious wine awards and that is testament to the outstanding entries that were received,” said Carson.

“We have had the pleasure of tasting some incredible wines during judging and it is fantastic to see these outstanding wineries and winemakers recognised for their hard work and dedication in producing top quality wines.”

Split between states, NSW was awarded five Best in Class trophies, WA four, SA three, VIC two and TAS one.

The James Halliday Trophy for Best Pinot Noir was awarded to the Eddystone Point 2015 Pinot Noir from Tasmania, while The Francois De Castella Trophy for Best Young White Wine was awarded to the Seville Estate 2015 Chardonnay from Victoria.

The Bill Chambers Trophy for Best Fortified Wine was awarded to the Morris Old Premium Rare Liqueur Topaque NV Muscadelle from Victoria, while Best Mature Wine went to Tyrrell’s Vat 1 Semillon from the Hunter.

Awarded for the first time in 2016, the Best Organic or Biodynamic Wine Trophy was awarded to Yalumba’s Organic 2015 Shiraz from South Australia and the Best Vermouth Trophy was scooped up by Maidenii in Victoria for its Sweet Vermouth, NV Cabernet Sauvignon.

Castagna in Victoria was also recognised for its consistency in winemaking, receiving the 2016 Victorian Trophy for Red Wines of Proveneance with its Genesis Syrah 2012, 2005, and 2002.

2016 ROYAL MELBOURNE WINE AWARDS WINNERS

MAJOR TROPHY WINNERS

The Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy for Best Young Red Wine
Deep Woods Estate 2014 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Deep Woods Estate, Margaret River, WA

The James Halliday Trophy for the Best Pinot Noir
Eddystone Point 2015 Pinot Noir, Eddystone Point, Tasmania

The Trevor Mast Trophy for Best Shiraz
Punt Road Napoleone Vineyard 2015 Shiraz, Punt Road Wines, Victoria

The François de Castella Trophy for Best Young White Wine
Seville Estate 2015 Chardonnay, Seville Estate, Yarra Valley, Victoria

The Victorian Trophy for Red Wines of Provenance
Castagna Genesis 2012, 2005, 2002 Shiraz Viognier, Castagna, Beechworth, Victoria

The Douglas Seabrook Single Vineyard Trophy
Punt Road Napoleone Vineyard 2015 Shiraz, Punt Road Wines, Yarra Valley, Victoria

The Kym Ludvigsen Trophy for Viticultural Excellence
Tim Shand, Punt Road Wines, Yarra Valley, Victoria

The Bill Chambers Trophy for Best Fortified
Morris Old Premium Rare Liqueur Topaque NV, Morris Wines, Rutherglen, Victoria

BEST IN CLASS TROPHY WINNERS

Best Vermouth
Maidenii Sweet Vermouth NV, Maidenii, Victoria

Best Sparkling
Swift Cuvée NV Chardonnay / Pinot Noir, Printhie Wines, New South Wales

Best Riesling
Pooley 2016 Riesling, Pooley Wines, Tasmania

Best Chardonnay
Corduroy 2014 Chardonnay, Snake and Herring, Western Australia

Best Semillon
VAT 1 2005 Semillon, Tyrrell’s Vineyards, New South Wales

Best Sauvignon Blanc or Blend of Semillon & Sauvignon Blanc
Stella Bella 2016 Sauvignon Blanc, Stella Bella Wines, Western Australia

Best Single Varietal White Wine
Dalfarras 2016 Pinot Grigio, Dalfarras, Victoria

Best Sweet White Wine
Morning Light 2010 Botrytis Semillon, McWilliam’s Wines, New South Wales

Best Rosé
Flametree 2016 Pinot Rosé, Flametree Wines, Western Australia

Best Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot or blend of Bordeaux Varieties
Deep Woods Estate 2014 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Deep Woods Estate, Western Australia

Best Single Varietal Red
Brown Brothers 2015 Cellar Door Release Nero D’avola, Brown Brothers, Victoria

Best Grenache, Red Rhone Varietal or Blend of Red Rhone Varieties
Bleasdale 2015 Grenache / Shiraz / Mataro, Bleasdale Vineyards, South Australia

Best Shiraz / Cabernet Sauvignon Blend
Young Brute 2015 Shiraz / Cabernet Sauvignon, Casella Family Brands, New South Wales

Best Red Blend
S.C. Pannell 2015 Touriga Cabernet Mataro, S.C. Pannell Wines, South Australia

Best Mature Wine
VAT 1 2005 Semillon, Tyrrell’s Vineyards, New South Wales

Best Organic or Biodynamic Wine
Yalumba Organic 2015 Shiraz, Yalumba Wine Company, South Australia

Image: Julian Langworth and John Fogarty from Deep Woods Estate with the Jimmy Watson Memorial Trophy