Gralyn Estate produces Wine of the Year

Gralyn Estate’s Artizan Rare Muscat NV beat 1,300 wines to be named Wine of the Year at the London Wine Competition.

It was the only wine to score 97 points in the judging.

The wine was also awarded Best in Show by Country and Best Wine of the Year by Quality. 

“Everything about this wine is exquisite — from flavour to label,” a statement from the competition read.

“It is rich and sports intense flavours of raisin and toffee.

“This exquisiteness also reflects in the intricate label which is an original artwork by Merilyn Hutton.”

Owners and winemakers Scott Baxter and Annette Baxter took the helm of Gralyn Estate two years ago from Annette’s parents, founders Graham and Merilyn Hutton. 

Mr Baxter said they only bottle a small amount of Artizan Rare Muscat each year, so the wine held its freshness. 

“The quality of the fruit, barrel age, blending and freshening is what makes this such a great fortified,” Mr Baxter said.

“Very old brandy barrels are used to store the Artizan, so as not to impart too much oak character, allowing it to develop rancio complexity. 

“These wines are precious as there is considerable loss each year from evaporation, what’s described as the Angel’s Share, and this gives the wine its power. 

“The vineyard is mature, low yielding and produces lovely juicy fruit, which is very perfumed when young - think, Turkish delight and rose petals, and as this material matures, we start to see more intense flavours of raisin and toffee.

“We're winning accolades now because Annette’s parents had the foresight 40 years ago to barrel age this beautiful wine.  

“They knew it was special, they knew it had its place and they believed that they were on to something for which we’re very grateful, because now we're reaping the rewards of their vision and hard work.” 

The winery’s Artizan Rare Muscat NV has won 11 other trophies including 2021 ANZ Boutique Wine Show, the Global Fine Wine Challenge and scored 95 Points and Gold at the Melbourne Royal Wine Awards. 

Gralyn Estate was also awarded gold for both its 2017 and 2018 reserve cabernet sauvignon at the London Wine Competition, and its chardonnay awarded bronze.

The winery was founded in Wilyabrup in 1975 and was the first to open a commercial cellar door in Margaret River in 1978.