The results for the 2010 International Wine Challenge
have just been released. The IWC is a
highly reputable judging, taking place in London,
and with over 10,000 entries, is the largest blind tasting in the world. New Zealand wines have featured
extremely well, but the gold medal result for Gladstone Vineyard Pinot Noir
2008 strikes a chord with us. The
greater Wairarapa winegrowing regions of Gladstone and Masterton are rapidly
gaining recognition approaching that of Martinborough. Though only separated from each other by a
few minutes drive, the terroirs are different, but it can be said that top
quality wines can be made from all the different vignobles. Recently, we highlighted three Wairarapa
Pinot Noirs from the 2008 vintage that demonstrated these points, in particular
the Gladstone
wine (click here to view article).
This is the fifth consecutive year that Gladstone
Vineyard has been awarded gold for their Pinot Noir wine. The 2007 vintage took gold at the 2009 IWC
and the 2008 NZIWC; the 2006 vintage taking gold at the 2008 RESWA and 2007
Mondial du Pinot Noir; the 2005 vintage taking gold at the 2006 ANZWA; and the
2004 vintage awarded Blue-Gold at the 2006 Sydney IWC. This wide ranging and consistent endorsement
from around the world demonstrates the true quality of the wine in a wide
perspective. At the 2010 IWC, the judges
described the 2008 Gladstone Vineyard Pinot Noir: “Lovely, smoky bacon and
vegetal character. Soft quivering mid-palate. Lots of fruit delivery and lovely
tannins. Excellent expression of Pinot.”
We concur, and offer our congratulations to Christine
and David Kernohan.