Johanneshof Cellars – Again!

Johanneshof Cellars – Again!

It may still be a couple of weeks before Easter actually arrives, but the judging panel for the Royal Easter Show wine awards has already convened, decided and announced the winners.

Once again, the boutique Marlborough winery Johanneshof Cellars has risen above peers to not only be awarded Gold & Trophy for ‘Champion Gewürztraminer’ for their 2010 vintage but is also one of only six wineries chosen to be inducted into the newly created ‘Heritage’ category. This new class of distinction was created to recognize exceptionally fine wines that will mature with grace and elegance. This revered recognition comes on the back of a similar acknowledgment with the induction of their 2004 and 2005 Gewürztraminer into the celebrated Octavian Vaults Library Collection in U.K., placing those wines among the top 17 wines in the world.

Six sets of wines were judged as being worthy of high commendation by three of Australasia’s foremost wine judges, Bob Campbell MW, Kate Radburnd, who last year became the first woman to head a national wine judging panel, and Mike DeGaris who has chaired many panels.

As a measure of consistency wine producers were required to present three vintages in each category, each vintage being three years apart. Johanneshof Cellars 2010, 2007 and 2004 Gewurztraminer stood out as not only meeting all of the criteria, but rose above other wineries to receive the special commendation and certificate for selection as a Heritage wine.

“Traditionally, the Royal Easter Show Awards aim has been to help consumers rate the wines they can buy currently, but now we have introduced the Heritage category to inform wine lovers what wines will cellar and age well”, advises Terry Dunleavy, general director of the awards for the past 19 years. “This innovation is long overdue, and has won instant support from a good number of longstanding wine producers. For the benefit of the entire wine sector, it’s timely to recognize wines that will age well and to acknowledge those wines that perform with distinction.

While no tasting notes are yet available from the recent awards, Octavian Vaults judging notes describe the 2005 Gewürztraminer as; “Rich lychee and barley sugar aromas. Very opulent. Palate is rich and medium sweet. Good acidity to balance, slightly hot on finish with sugar lingering”. The 2004 Gewürztraminer is described as; “Excellent Gewürztraminer aromatics. Spice, roses, pure. Sweet, juicy, ginger notes, really flavoursome with great texture and freshness. Hedonistic”.

In the realm of fine wine tasting such praise is not readily given. It takes a wine making maestro to be deserving of opulent and hedonistic comments.

Johanneshof Cellars has once again proven that devotion to traditional winemaking methods and a passion to produce wines that will stand the test of time is indeed a craft unique to an elite few.

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