International Trophy & Gold Medal at Decanter Asia Wine Awards!

We would like to thank Decanter as well as our long term partner in Asia, Watsons Wines, who have already greatly assisted in developing and promoting our wines in these markets. 

We have always sought to bring the most out of its fruit's natural gifts through the winemaking process, with minimal intervention. This philosophy has led to wines of unmistakable quality, recognised as such with accolades, both at home and abroad. 

Winemaking truly begins in the vineyard and we have abundant water catchments, beautiful undulating landscapes, naturally biodiverse bushland and, most importantly, soil that is exceptionally well-suited to premium viticultural use. Longstanding biological sustainable farming practises have shaped our properties, contributing to the health of the vineyards and the quality of the fruit which continues to surpass itself.

ABOUT DAWA 
Now in its 4th year, the Decanter Asia Wine Awards (DAWA) is Asia's leading and most trusted wine competition. Judged by Asia's top wine experts, the DAWA is trusted for its rigorous judging process. The judges taste wines individually, with knowledge of their region and style. They then compare notes and reach a consensus on each wine’s medal. Wines awarded a Gold or Silver medal are retasted by one of the Vice-Chairs for his or her confirmation.

Regional Trophies 
All the Gold medal-winning wines within each region are divided into categories according to style or grape variety. These wines are then retasted by Vice-Chairs who award a Regional Trophy to the best wine in each category. A Regional Trophy will only be awarded if the panel believes a wine’s quality merits such an award.

International Trophies
All Regional Trophy winners are then split into categories according to grape variety or style. The top wines from each region are then pitted against each other to win the DAWA's ultimate accolades: The International Trophies. These are decided in a separate tasting judged by our Chairman, Steven Spurrier, and our Vice-Chairs, Gerard Basset OBE MS MW, Andrew Jefford, Michael Hill-Smith MW, Shinya Tasaki, Li Demei and Ch'ng Poh Tiong.  

Full results will be published online on 5th October 2015. Visit: www.decanterchina.com/en/  

15/09/2015 at 6:30 PM Permalink

Clairault scores highly in James Halliday's Wine Companion 2016 Edition

Clairault is proud to announce results from the 2016 Halliday Wine Companion.

5 Red Star James Halliday Rating = Outstanding winery regularly producing wines of exemplary quality and typicity. Will have at least two wines rated at 94 points or above, and had a five-star rating for the previous two years. Top 4.9%

95 / 100   Clairault Estate Margaret River Chardonnay 2013
“A beautiful wine. Not in any way overdone. Pear, grapefruit and white peach flavours melt into blanched almonds and wood spice. It’s charming in a pristine way; it finishes long.” Drink by 2020
 
93 / 100  Clairault Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2013  * Special value star! 
“Well balanced, textured and flavoured. Blackcurrant, bay leaf and spiced chocolate notes reach to all corners of the mouth. Tannin stretches the fingers out that extra bit further, nothing overdone; all about composure.” Drink by 2025
 
93 / 100   Clairault Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon 2013  * Special value star! 
“Deep colour and flavour, chocolate, blackcurrant, gravel and eucalypt notes run seductively through the palate, smooth-textured throughout and them dry and firm to close. Opens up attractively as it breathes in the glass, smoothing out further as it does so.” Drink by 2024
 
93 / 100   Clairault Margaret River Chardonnay 2013 * Special value star! 
“Margaret River chardonnay writ large. Sunny but well focused, Sweet of both oak and fruit but offset by smoky, sulphide-derived characters. Gets the balance right and then finishes with good persistence. Has some weight but feels zippy.” Drink by 2019
 
93 / 100   Clairault Margaret River Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2014  *Special value star! 
“Doesn’t put a foot wrong. Trademark thistle/gravel characters laced through juicy tropical fruit. Maintains just the right amount of tension throughout and finishes with good persistence.” Drink by 2017
 
93 / 100   Clairault Cellar Release Margaret River Petit Verdot 2012 
“One to enter in the irresistibility stakes. It’s all plush, violetty, cassis-like fruit flavour, supple and full bodied. It has other flavours but that generous ball of red/black berries flavour is the key. Floral notes are a bonus. Drink by 2021
 
90 / 100  Clairault Cellar Release Margaret River Cane Cut Riesling 2013“Intensity to the finish elevates it. Flavours are in the lime and grapefruit spectrum, the lusciousness coming from an intense, syrupy sweetness. Simples pleasures but intense flavour. 375ml.” Drink by 2017
 

Read more on his site: http://www.winecompanion.com.au/ 

29/07/2015 at 6:24 PM Permalink