Gisborne Regional Wine Show awards (23 May 2015)

CORBANS CHARDONNAY TAKES TOP TROPHY AT AWARDS

Another “stunning” local chardonnay has triumphed at the 2015 Gisborne Regional Wine Awards, edging out 115 other wines to take the supreme trophy at the black tie dinner last night.

The Corbans 1902 Chardonnay 2013 scooped the pool, winning the GisVin Ltd Supreme Wine of Show, as well as the trophy for overall top wine and the chardonnay class. Lion, who own the Corbans label, were also the highest awarded wine company.

John Clarke was honoured for his outstanding contribution to the local wine industry, while Denis Irwin won the Bill Irwin Trophy for his efforts.

Matawhero Wines had a successful competition too, winning the overall top red and red and other blends class with their Pinot Noir 2013, which was also named in the Gisborne selection along with Matawhero Wines Chardonnay 2014. The chardonnay also won the unoaked chardonnay class. The Matawhero Church House Malbec 2013 won the malbec and blends class, while the Matawhero Church Road Chenin Blanc 2014 took out the other whites class.

Chair of judges, Simon Nunns, said the Corbans 1902 Chardonnay 2013 was a clear overall winner.

“It’s a big rich, opulent style of chardonnay,” he said. “It is one that has a lot going on, but still a place for everything and everything in its place. Corbans has been making good wines in this district for decades, so it a fitting win.”

The Corbans wine halted a record-breaking five in a row supreme wins from the Villa Maria Reserve Barrique Fermented Gisborne Chardonnay.

The team at Corbans were ecstatic with the win from a chardonnay described as capturing the regional essence of Gisborne and the fantastic 2013 vintage.

The barrel-fermented wine offers a complex medley of ripe fleshy stone fruit, a fine citrus line with layers of smoky toasty lingering oak.

Geoff Matthews, Lion Beer, Spirits and Wine New Zealand national operations director, said it was great, especially for the brand that was launched in October 2014.

The chardonnay comprises clone 15 from the Whitmore Vineyard in Ormond and mendoza from the Indevin Patutahi Vineyard. The grapes were machine picked in mid-March at 22.5 brix.

Fermentation was started in stainless steel tanks before being moved to a variety of French-oaked barrels for 18 months. It has about 30% new oak, with the balance a combination of one and two-year-old barrels. The wine was aged on lees for about 12 months.

Loin’s North Island operations winemaker Jane De Witt says she felt the wine was a winner from the start.

“It is just awesome to win this,” she said. “Gisborne does such a great chardonnay and this one is quite special. We wanted something that was a really punch chardonnay with lots of fruit, that was concentrated and balanced for the 1902 label. We wanted something that was a little bit different with that wow factor.”

Nine thousands litres has so far been bottled, with more in the tanks. While the wine is only available at selected restaurants and wine bars, that is expected to change in the future.

The award-winning wine is part of a special new label for Corbans, and pays homage to the company’s long-standing place in New Zealand winemaking.

1902 is when Corbans’ founder Assid Corban bought four hectares of land in Henderson . . . and so began a piece of viticultural history.

“If you take Corbans as a brand, it speaks for itself,” said Mr Matthews. “It has pioneered the New Zealand wine industry, and as the leader of the team for our business, I am proud to be able to continue the name.”

Although Marlborough based, Mr Matthews has strong links with the Gisborne region, having grown up in the region.

In all five gold medals were awarded, with Mr Nunns describing them all as “quite exquisite”.

“Those five wines were just beautiful and represent five different cultivars and styles of wine – a beautiful chardonnay (Corbans 1902 Chardonnay 2013) , a great sparkling (Lindauer Special Reserve Blanc de Blanc NV), a divine chenin (Matawhero Church Road Chenin Blanc 2014) a very exciting gewürztraminer (Huntaway Reserve Gewürztraminer 2013) and a vivacious viognier (Honorary Viognier 2013),” said Mr Nunns.

He was particularly pleased to see the chenin blanc receive a gold.

“It’s a variety that has been grown in Gisborne for a long time and in many cases used and abused. The gewürztraminer was a delight, as was the viognier – these are two varieties that can do very well in Gisborne. It is great to see people keep their eye on the ball and come up with a great result.”

Mr Nunns said he expected to see more gold medals awarded in the chardonnay class – the biggest single one of the competition.

“Overall, I feel we had slightly less quality than what we expected. In general the 2013/2014 vintages were both pretty solid, so we (the judges) expected a few more highlights.”

Last night’s black tie GisVin Gisborne Regional Wine Awards Dinner, held at the Quality Hotel Emerald and attended by 200 guests, was a true celebration of the district’s food and wine. Martin Bosley, one of New Zealand’s most celebrated chefs, put together a menu that matched the winning wines from the fifth annual competition.

WINNERS LIST

Supreme Wine of Show Corbans 1902 Chardonnay 2013

Trophy Sponsored by GisVin Limited

Highest Awarded Wine LION

Company Trophy Sponsored by Chrisp & Davidson

Best Value Wine Under $15 Honorary Viognier 2013

Trophy Sponsored by Indevin

Best Label The Prospect Chardonnay Ormond Valley 2011

Gisborne Regional Wine Show awards (23 May 2015)

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