Top results for Australia’s definitive blend in The Great Australian Red 2010

Australia’s signature blend of cabernet shiraz is in top form, according to the results of The Great Australian Red competition judged yesterday. A higher proportion of gold and silver medals were awarded than in any other year in the five year history of the competition.

The results confirm the rising quality of Australia’s cabernet shiraz blend, in spite of the climatic extremes of recent vintages. Three-quarters of the entries in this year’s competition came from the challenging 2007, 2008 and 2009 seasons.

The consumer is the ultimate winner, with the biggest rise in quality seen at the bargain end of the field. Silver and gold medals were won by almost one-fifth of entries priced under $20, led by sub-$20 trophy and gold medal winner Penfolds Koonunga Hill Seventy Six Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, with a price tag of just $18.

The winner of The Great Australian Red 2010 and the trophy for The Best Shiraz-Dominant Blend was Jacob’s Creek Johann Shiraz Cabernet 2005. A label with an illustrious record in The Great Australian Red, snaring trophy, gold or silver medals in every year of the competition to date, this is a fitting result for Orlando’s flagship red wine and a testament to its finest vintage to date.

Penfolds continued its trophy haul with both the trophy for The Best Wine over $50 and the trophy for The Best Cabernet-Dominant Blend for Penfolds Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz 2008, a Special Bin wine due for release in 2012.

A medal winner with every one of its entries, Penfolds was the most successful exhibitor in the competition. Outstanding results were also achieved across multiple entries by Yalumba, Wolf Blass, Majella, McWilliams, Jim Barry, Pepper Tree and Lindemans.

The initiative of wine writers Matthew Jukes (UK) and Tyson Stelzer (Australia), The Great Australian Red competition is a wine show focused exclusively on Australian blends of cabernet and shiraz. A unique judging format counts the scores of all thirteen judges against every wine entered in the competition, providing a greater level of rigor than is possible in the usual three-judge show system.

The judges of The Great Australian Red 2010 were Brian Walsh (Yalumba; Chair of Judges), Matthew Jukes (panel chair), Tyson Stelzer (panel chair), Jeffrey Grosset (Grosset Wines), Toby Barlow (St Hallett), Michael Fragos (Chapel Hill), Tash Mooney (Fox Gordon), Kym Teusner (Teusner Wines), Joch Bosworth (Battle of Bosworth), Katie MacAulay (Lion Nathan), Tony Love (Food and Wine Writer), Amelia Jukes (Wine Writer) and Nathan Gogoll (Free Run Press).

In total, five trophies, four gold medals, twenty-six silver medals and twenty-eight bronze medals were awarded across ninety-two entries. The full list of medals follows.

Trophies                                                                                                                                          

The Great Australian Red 2010

Jacob’s Creek Johann Shiraz Cabernet 2005, $75

The Trophy for the Best Wine over $50

Penfolds Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz 2008, ~$550+ (RRP TBC)

The Trophy for the Best wine under $20

Penfolds Koonunga Hill Seventy Six Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, $18

The Trophy for the Best Cabernet-dominant Blend

Penfolds Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz 2008, ~$550+ (RRP TBC)

The Trophy for the Best Shiraz-dominant Blend

Jacob’s Creek Johann Shiraz Cabernet 2005, $75

Gold Medals

Jacob’s Creek Johann Shiraz Cabernet 2005, $75

Penfolds Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz 2008, ~$550+ (RRP TBC)

Penfolds Koonunga Hill Seventy Six Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, $18

Yalumba FDR1A 2008, $37

Silver Medals

Glaetzer Anaperenna 2009, $50

Hollick Stock Route Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, $21

Jacob’s Creek Johann Shiraz Cabernet 2006, $75

Jim Barry PB Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz 2008, $100

Jim Barry PB Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, $100

Kaesler W.O.M.S. 2008, $80

Lake Breeze Bernoota Shiraz Cabernet 2008, $21

Lindemans Coonawarra Limestone Ridge 2008, $55

Majella The Malleea 2008, $70

Majella The Musician 2009, $17

McWilliams 1877 2006, $65

McWilliams 1877 2008, $65

Metala Cabernet Shiraz Malbec 2009, $23

Mildara Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz 2006, $30

Millbrook LR Shiraz Cabernet 2007, $45

Penfolds Koonunga Hill Seventy Six Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, $18

Pepper Tree Strandlines Grand Reserve Wrattonbully Cabernet Shiraz 2008, $65

Ulithorne Paternus Cabernet Shiraz 2008, $35

Wolf Blass Black Label 2005, $130

Wolf Blass Black Label 2006, $130

Wolf Blass Black Label 2007, $130

Wolf Blass Black Label 2008, $130

Wyndham George Wyndham Shiraz Cabernet 2009, $20

Yalumba The Reserve 2004, $150

Yalumba The Scribbler Cabernet Shiraz 2008, $20

Yering Station Little Yering Cabernet Shiraz 2008, $19

Bronze Medals

Anvers Brabo Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz 2009, $15

Anvers Razorback Road Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, $20

Bleasdale The Broad-side Shiraz Cabernet Malbec 2008, $15

Corduroy Shiraz Cabernet 2009, $30

Coriole The Old Barn Cabernet Shiraz 2008, $40

Elderton Ode to Lorraine Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz Merlot 2008, $50

Fox Creek JSM Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc 2008, $22.50

Fox Creek Shadow’s Run Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, $12

Hardys HRB Cabernet Shiraz 2007, $35

Hardys HRB Cabernet Shiraz 2008, $35

Henry’s Drive Parson’s Flat Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, $30

Karra Yerta Shiraz Cabernet 2006, $25

Lindemans Coonawarra Limestone Ridge 2006, $55

Madeleines Stonesford Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, $29

Olivers Taranga Corrinas Shiraz Cabernet 2008, $30

Penfolds Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz 2007, $65

Penfolds Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz 2008, $65

Pepper Tree Strandlines Grand Reserve Wrattonbully Cabernet Shiraz 2006, $65

Pepper Tree Strandlines Grand Reserve Wrattonbully Cabernet Shiraz 2007, $65

Ross Barossa Tier 1 Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, $60

Soul Growers Resurgence Cabernet Shiraz 2008, $25

St Hallett Gamekeeper’s Shiraz Cabernet 2009, $14

Tatachilla Partners Cabernet Shiraz 2009, $12

The Islander Estate Bark Hut Road 2004, $37

Warrenmang Bazzani Shiraz Cabernet 2008, $15

Waywood Wines Shiraz Cabernet 2007, $30

Wolf Blass Red Label Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon 2010, $14

Wynns V&A Lane Cabernet Shiraz 2008, $43

Zema Estate Saluti Coonawarra Cabernet Shiraz 2006, $70