A Trifecta of Golds awarded to Mud House at this year’s prestigious Air New Zealand Wine Awards!
-Press Release-
Three Mud House wines received gold on Saturday night at the annual Air New Zealand Wine Awards.
A Pure Elite Gold medal was awarded to the 2012 Mud House South Island Pinot Gris, and Pure Gold medals were awarded to the 2012 Mud House Estate Claim 431 Vineyard Central Otago Pinot Noir and the 2012 Mud House Central Otago Pinot Noir. The two Pinot Noirs, sourced from the Mud House Estate Vineyard, known as Claim 431, cement belief that Central Otago’s Bendigo region is a natural home to grow outstanding Pinot Noir.
In a year where Pinot Noir was the strongest performer overall; with 22 gold medals being awarded to the varietal category; 18 medals were awarded to Central Otago wines; and two of those hailed from Mud House Claim 431 Vineyard.
Mud House Group Winemaker, Ben Glover, is stoked with the results on a number of fronts. Ben acknowledged the fantastic job done by Mud House Viticulturist, Stephen Dempster, along with Claim 431 Vineyard Manger Duncan Cramp and his team on site. “They do a marvellous job at delivering superb fruit to us,” Ben said.
“To have two Gold awards from Claim 431 Vineyard across different style ranges and price points, shows how adept this vineyard is at providing gorgeous Pinot Noir fruit. Being only eight years old, there is still better to come!” he said.
Duncan Cramp said the success showcased the quality of Central Otago Pinot Noir. “The whole of Central Otago does pretty well, but the sub region of Bendigo is synonymous with Pinot Noir, “he said.
Mud House Winemaker, Nadine Worley, also raved about the fruit which Bendigo produces. “2012 was an outstanding year for our Bendigo vineyard. The fruit was bold and rich on the front palate but showed exceptional structure and acid line. We were quite restrained with the oak use in the Mud House Central Otago Pinot Noir to allow the outstanding fruit to take the lead in the wine.” Nadine said.
Chair of Judges, Michael Brajkovich MW, believes New Zealand winemakers are producing world-class wines across an exciting and diverse range of varieties.
“The bar is always being raised in the Air New Zealand Wine Awards and this year is no exception,” Michael said. “The wines in this competition seem to improve year on year, and this year there were some truly outstanding entries. It’s a good reflection of the evolution of the New Zealand wine sector”.
The 2012 Mud House South Island Pinot Gris has had a stellar year, winning Gold at the New World Wine Awards and was named within the Top 50 wines of New Zealand. To receive an Elite Pure Gold at the Air New Zealand Wine Awards is a highpoint that reflects the talent of Winemaker Nadine Worley.
“The soft stone fruit aromatics and silky texture of the Pinot Gris, hails from the selected parcels in Marlborough and Nelson, whilst the perfectly structured phenolics, palate structure and seamless minerality, was delivered from the Waipara estate vineyards; The Home Block and The Deans”, Nadine said.
Ben Glover, Mud House Group Winemaker, believes Pinot Gris is a tough variety to get ‘right’ as it can arrive dressed in a lot of eclectic wine styles.
“To consistently perform and be commended throughout the year is hugely rewarding for us. For this wine to be awarded an Elite Gold at the Air New Zealand Wine Awards is the icing on the cake for Nadine Worley and our viticulture and winemaking teams in Waipara and Marlborough”. Ben said.
Over 520 wine industry professionals and enthusiasts attended the 2013 Air New Zealand Wine Awards on Saturday night at the Queenstown Events Centre.
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