Rockburn Wins Champion Awards

Press Release from Rockburn Wines Ltd 25 November 2008

Rockburn Wins Champion Pinot Noir and Champion Open Red Wine at Air New Zealand Awards

The Rockburn Pinot Noir 2007 took home the JF Hillebrand Champion Pinot Noir and the Fairfax Media Champion Open Red Wine trophies at the Air New Zealand Wine Awards on Saturday night.

The trophy was presented to winemaker Malcolm Rees-Francis at a lavish black tie gala awards dinner at the TSB Bank Arena in Wellington.

A panel of twenty-six local and international judges led by Chairman of the Judges, Steve Smith MW, expressed that “This wine represents an exceptional class of 2007 with real poise and personality. It’s Pinot, deep dark and exposed, an absolutely sensational nose of spice, licorice, dark cherry lifted by hints of wild thyme, red fruits and summer flowers. Beautiful definition on the palate, one minute luscious the next fine and dry, and the famous peacock’s tail finish. Outrageously fine.”

In addition to the two trophies, the Rockburn Pinot Noir 2007 also earned an Elite Gold medal, which is awarded to wines scoring 19 points and above out of 20.

The competition is owned and organised by New Zealand Winegrowers, the national organisation for the country’s 1,300 grapegrowers and winemakers. This years’ competition saw 1,751 entries across all varietal categories.

The trophies are the third and fourth for winemaker Malcolm Francis, having joined Rockburn Wines for the 2006 vintage at their new winery at McNulty Road, Cromwell. Prior to becoming head winemaker for Rockburn, he completed four vintages as assistant winemaker at Felton Road Wines.

In addition to the Air New Zealand Wine Awards trophies, the Rockburn Pinot Noir 2007 has also earned gold medals at the San Francisco International Wine Competition, the New Zealand International Wine Show and the Liquorland Top 100. In addition, it was awarded 5 Stars in the November 2008 edition of Cuisine Magazine, the August/September 2008 Gourmet Traveller Wine magazine and two editions of Listener magazine.

Rockburn Wines has a history of winning gold medals, particularly for its Pinot Noir, at such shows as the Air New Zealand Wine Awards, the New Zealand International Wine Show and the New Zealand Royal Easter Show.

While renowned for its award-winning Pinot Noir, Rockburn also produces Pinot Gris, Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc.

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