Two Central wines champions

TWO CENTRAL Otago wines have won medals in the annual New World Wine Awards.

Bendigo vineyard’s Madam Sass Central Otago Pinot Noir Rose 2018 won the champion rose section and Alexandra’s Shaky Bridge Pioneer Series Central Otago Pinot Noir 2017 won the champion pinot noir title.

The pinot was also voted the pinot noir the champion red wine of the competition due to its ‘‘long, clean, precise finish that makes this wine a knockout’’.

The judges described the rose as ‘‘a very well balanced and elegant wine with a tiny suggestion of sweetness on the finish’’.

However, the chardonnays impressed the most, judges’ chairman Jim Harre said.

‘‘While a record number of rose wines entered . . . it was the enduring chardonnay category that particularly pleased the judges this year.’’

‘‘Now, we have wellmanaged wines that reflect the true quality of the chardonnay fruit, with a judicious use of oak, and a fine elegance brought about by considered winemaking. They are simply a delight to drink, and a musttry even for those who may not typically choose chardonnay.’’

The wines go through ‘‘rigorous’’ testing and are randomised. Judges can only know the variety, the country of origin, and when the grapes were harvested.

A goldmedalwinning wine ends up being tasted about 19 times, and a trophy wine will be tasted at least 36 times.

There were 17 independent experts involved in judging over the threeday event this year.

To be eligible for the competition, the wines must retail for $25 or less, meaning buyers can get an affordable bottle of wine and know it is still high quality.