Some good news for Evans and Tate

DESPITE its financial troubles, Western Australian wine producer Evans and Tate came out as the most successful WA exhibitor at the 2008 Perth Royal Wine show. Evans and Tate won three gold, five silver and five bronze awards, with its Margaret River Merlot 2007 winning best merlot of the show and its Reserve Shiraz 2005 named best WA dry red table wine. The competition’s most successful exhibitor was McWilliams Wines, with five gold, three silver and three bronze awards. Among the state’s smaller producers, Margaret River’s Flametree Wines was named the competition’s most successful WA winery producing less than 300 tonnes. The winery, which opened a cellar door at its Caves Road premises in June this year, also won the award for best dry table wine (blends). Judging head Tony Jordan said the number and standard of entries was strong this year, noting particularly the strength of the chardonnay and shiraz classes Among the whites, Margaret River’s Palmer Wines won best chardonnay for its Chardonnay 2006 Vintage, while Chapman Grove won best dry white table wine (blends) for its Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2008. Porongorup winery Shepherd’s Hut won best sauvignon blanc for its Sauvignon Blanc 2008. In the reds, Ferngrove Vineyards Estate won the best cabernet sauvignon award for its Ferngrove Majestic Cabernet 2007