A Clare Valley Merlot has taken the Best of Show Australia award at the 25th Grant International Wine Award Summer Tasting (Mundus Vini) in Germany.
Taylors Wines Estate Merlot 2018, a $19 red, ranked highest among all Australian wines in the show, was one of only 14 wines to receive the highest ranking of Grand Gold, and the only Australian wine to do so.
“While our family winery is known for its fantastic Cabernet and Shiraz wines, we’re very excited that our home-grown Merlot is getting international recognition by some of the best palates in Europe,” said Winemaker and Managing Director Mitchell Taylor.
“This wine is a relatively new vintage release and it’s really hitting its stride early on. We’ve been anticipating the release of our 2018 reds as it was an exceptional vintage. The wait has paid off and we’re so pleased to see Merlot shining on the international show circuit.”
The Mundus Vini Grand International Wine Award is one of the world’s most important wine competitions, welcoming more than 10,000 wines to be exhibited and tasted by 170 wine experts from 45 countries.
The Grand Gold medal, the highest achievement in the show, is only given to the best wines exhibited.
The Taylors Estate Merlot 2018 is a medium to full-bodied wine with distinct aromas of black cherry and ripe strawberries, with a lush red berry, plum and cherry fruit palate.
The wine, sourced from the family’s Clare Valley Estate is aged in a mixture of American and French oak barrels, creating a complex finish to the wine.
The award-winning Clare Valley merlot is available now from select fine wine retailers and direct from Taylors Cellar Door.
Casella tops the medal tally
The best producer in Australia at Mundus Vini was Casella Family Brands with 12 medals.
It took home Gold for its 2016 Brands Laira One Seven One Cabernet Sauvignon, 2016 Brands Laira Blockers Cabernet Sauvignon, 2015 Brands Laira The Clipper Cabernet Sauvignon, 2018 Dark Corner Durif Shiraz, 2016 Peter Lehmann The Pastor’s Son Shiraz, Morris Classic Muscat.
Morris Wines recently raised a glass to Casella boss John Casella saving the winery at its 160th anniversary celebration.
Casella (above right) noted at the lunch: “In the wine industry it’s not just about money, it’s not just about volume … Morris may be very small, but it’s very important.”
Casella bought Brand’s Laira in South Australia’s Coonawarra wine region in 2016. It acquired Peter Lehmann Wines in the Barossa Valley in 2014.
