The recent annual Qantas Wine Show of Western Australia held in Mount Barker has received rave reviews.
Three panels of judges tasted their way through nearly 1,200 Western Australian wines from nearly 220 different labels, making it one of the biggest shows in the region on record.
The judging team awarded 64 gold medals, 107 silver and 355 bronze during a show characterised by exceptional fruit quality across the board.
The show presents a field of wine across 39 classes, this year including wines from traditional growing regions but also entries from Geraldton, Esperance, and even western Wheatbelt towns such as Narrogin and Wandering.
As to the winners, Houghton’s 2003 Gladstones Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon won the best wine in show, one of seven trophies for Houghton on the night.
Millbrook Estate’s 2004 Chardonnay received two trophies, including best white.
A unique feature of the Mount Barker show is a trophy recognising the wine that shows the most distinctive regional character. This year, the Department of Agriculture JS Gladstones Trophy went to Lamont’s for its 2005 Swan Valley Verdelho.
Respected wine writer and show judge, Huon Hooke, said quality wines were evident across the board with gold medals awarded in sparkling, rose, fortified and pinot noir classes.
However, the presence of the wine taint Brettanomyces in many of the reds, detracted from the success of the show, with some reports suggesting ‘Brett’, as it is known in wine circles, affected between 25 and 30 per cent of wines poured during the show.
