Int'l Gold Medal for Gibbston Valley Pinot Noir

Media Release 17 November 2009

The 2008 Gibbston Valley Reserve Pinot Noir has been awarded a Blue-Gold Medal and included in the Top 100 Wines of the Show at the prestigious Sydney International Wine Competition.

The Sydney International Wine Competition is unique among international wine shows in that the wines are first of all judged on wine quality before being submitted to judging alongside food. Only those wines that score high enough to be awarded a Gold Medal in each judging qualify for the unique Blue-Gold (or double Gold) Medal.

The 100 wines which score the highest number of aggregate points in both judgings are then included in The Top 100 Wines of the Show. Trophy winners from the Sydney International Wine Competition will be announced in February.

Winemaker Christopher Keys said winning Gold in the Sydney International was especially meaningful, as Gibbston Valley wines are designed to be food friendly and elegant.

“This Reserve Pinot Noir is the most elegant of our 2008 reds – but by no means is it our biggest. Here is a show that rewards wines that have finesse, elegance and length, so it satisfying to see that recognized by the judges. It bodes well for the wines coming from our high altitude premier Bendigo vineyards – they are not about power but will surprise a lot of people with their sleek class.”

No strangers to international awards for their wines, this was the 12th occasion on which Gibbston Valley has been awarded a Blue-Gold Medal at the Sydney International Wine Competition.

The 2008 Gibbston Valley Reserve Pinot is a single vineyard wine with all fruit coming from the company’s premium Schoolhouse vineyard at Bendigo, near Tarras.

Gibbston Valley Reserve Pinot Noir is the winery’s flagship wine and is only produced in those vintages which produce fruit of exceptional quality. It was not made in 2003, 2004, or 2007. Typically made in small quantities, there are just 560 cases of the as yet unreleased 2008 Gibbston Valley Reserve Pinot Noir.

Scheduled for release on 15 December, the 2008 Gibbston Valley Reserve Pinot Noir will have a cellar door price of $100.

ENDS

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