Western Australia’s Deep Woods Estate has taken out a wine trophy and Gold at the first awards show for 2019 with its $15 Cabernet Shiraz.
The Deep Woods 2017 Ebony Cabernet Shiraz won Best Shiraz/Cabernet Blend Wine of Show at the Royal Queensland Wine Show.
Ebony also took out the top Gold for its class scoring 95 points. Also winning Gold was the Deep Woods 2017 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot with 95 points (RRP $35).
Chief Winemaker Julian Langworthy (above) said: “I love the Ebony Cabernet Shiraz and the 2017 is delicious. It’s one of the best value, most enjoyable and rewarding wines we make. It really is a thrill to win such a prestigious award with one of our most delightful and accessible wines, especially one that’s under $20.”
Wine critic Ray Jordan has previously lauded the Ebony in his Top Reds Under $15 list, noting: “It is astonishing that wines of this quality can still be available at these prices.”
Deep Woods Estate is part of Fogarty Wine Group (FWG), a Western Australian-based, family-controlled wine group that also includes Evans & Tate in Margaret River and Millbrook Winery in the Perth Hills. Evans & Tate also took home Golds for the yet-to-be released Evans & Tate 2016 Redbrook Reserve Chardonnay with 95 points (RRP $65), and the Evans & Tate Redbrook 2016 and 2015 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignons with 95 points each (RRP $65); and Millbrook won GOLD for the 2018 Single Vineyard Chardonnay, also with 95 points (to be released in September 2019).
FWG Chairman, Peter Fogarty, said: “I am delighted with our results at the Royal Queensland Wine Show and winning the Trophy for Best Shiraz/Cabernet Blend for Ebony, which is such a great value wine, is testament to the skills and dedication of our winemaking team at Deep Woods”.
FWG also recently announced the purchase of the Winemaking Tasmania business through Tasmanian Vintners which complements its earlier purchases of Lowestoft vineyard at Berriedale and a new vineyard site in Gilling Brook Road and positions the Group as a leading producer of both premium Tasmanian and Western Australian wine for the future.
Controversy as Queensland winemakers fail to win Gold
The wine that won the grand champion wine trophy at the Royal Queensland Wine Show was Giant Steps Nocton Vineyard Pinot Noir 2018 ($75).
While it was made by a Queenslander – Steve Flamsteed – it was produced in Victoria’s Yarra Valley from fruit sourced in Tasmania. No Queensland vineyards collected Gold medals this year.
Winemaker Angelo Puglisi blamed the lack of local Gold on prohibitive entry fees to the competition and the requirement for entrants to supply the RNA with six bottles of every variety entered.
“We are not Penfolds, we are nor McWilliams,” he told The Courier Mail. “We are not big producers. Every bottle we send is one less we have to sell at the cellar door.
Entry fees range from $110 to $130 for each class entered.
Full list of wine trophy winners
BEST RIESLING WINE OF SHOW Pewsey Vale Vineyard — Pewsey Vale Vineyard The Contours Riesling 2013
BEST SEMILLON WINE OF SHOW Australian Vintage Limited — McGuigan Bin 9000 Semillon 2013
BEST SAUVIGNON BLANC OR SEMILLON & SAUVIGNON BLANC BLEND WINE OF SHOW Grape Expectations Vintners — Miles From Nowhere Sauvignon Blanc 2019
THE AO FLEMING BEST CHARDONNAY WINE OF SHOW Capel Vale Winery — Capel Vale Wines Black Label Chardonnay 2018
BEST PINOT GRIS / GRIGIO WINE OF SHOW Jacob’s Creek Wines — Jacob’s Creek Classic Pinot Grigio 2019
BEST SINGLE WHITE VARIETAL WINE OF SHOW Australian Vintage Limited — Nepenthe Winemakers Select Gewurztraminer 2018
BEST SWEET WHITE WINE OF SHOW Brown Family Wine Group — Brown Brothers Patricia Noble Riesling 2015
BEST SINGLE VINEYARD WHITE TABLE WINE OF SHOW Pewsey Vale Vineyard — Pewsey Vale Vineyard The Contours Riesling 2013
RNA BEST WHITE TABLE WINE OF SHOW Capel Vale Winery — Capel Vale Wines Black Label Chardonnay 2018
BEST ROSÉ WINE OF SHOW Jacob’s Creek Wines — Jacob’s Creek Le Petit Rosé 2018
BEST CURRENT DRINKING LIGHT RED WINE OF SHOW De Bortoli Wines — Villages Tempranillo Touriga 2018
THE DR BILL RYAN BEST PINOT NOIR OF SHOW Giant Steps Wine — Giant Steps Nocton Vineyard Pinot Noir 2018
BEST GRENACHE, ASSOCIATED VARIETY OR BLEND WINE OF SHOW Hentley Farm — Hentley Farm The Old Legend Grenache 2018
BEST SHIRAZ WINE OF SHOW Windance Estate — Shiraz 2018
THE QUEENSLAND WINE GUILD BEST SHIRAZ/CABERNET BLEND WINE OF SHOW Deep Woods Estate — Deep Woods Estate ‘Ebony’ Cabernet Shiraz 2017
THE ALAN COOK MBE TROPHY THE ALAN COOK MBE TROPHY BEST CABERNET, ASSOCIATED VARIETY OR BLEND WINE OF SHOW Xanadu Wines — Xanadu Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
BEST SINGLE RED VARIETAL WINE OF SHOW Agnew Wines — Cockfighters Ghost Single Vineyard Sangiovese 2017
BEST RED BLEND WINE OF SHOW Hardys Tintara — Hardys Tintara Grenache Shiraz Touriga 2018
BEST SINGLE VINEYARD RED TABLE WINE OF SHOW Giant Steps Wine — Giant Steps Nocton Vineyard Pinot Noir 2018
BEST FORTIFIED WINE OF SHOW Baileys of Glenrowan — Baileys of Glenrowan Rare Topaque
KING STREET BEST WINE OF PROVENANCE Leasingham Wines — Leasingham Classic Clare Watervale Riesling 2005, 2012, 2018
CHIEF JUDGE’S AWARD Yarra Yering — Dry Red Wine No3 2018
THE STODART TROPHY BEST RED TABLE WINE OF SHOW Giant Steps Wine — Giant Steps Nocton Vineyard Pinot Noir 2018
THE ANGELO PUGLISI GRAND CHAMPION WINE OF SHOW Giant Steps Wine — Giant Steps Nocton Vineyard Pinot Noir 2018
Giant Steps site goes on the market
Giant Steps winery and restaurant, is up for sale via expression of interest for an undisclosed sum.
Little Creatures co-founder Phil Sexton and chief winemaker Steve Flamsteed have built a strong international reputation for the winery since its launch in 2003.
They’ve gone on to win a slew of awards, including their latest wine trophy as the Champion Wine of Show at the Royal Queensland Wine Show.
The pair only recently signed a new 10-year lease at the property.
The estimated net rental income at the winery is $470,000 a year.
JLL Melbourne director Stuart Taylor said the property was expected to attract “a broad range of passive investors”.
“We expect to receive interest from a range of local, national and potentially offshore investors,” he said.
