Kiwi Judge Rocks in Sydney International Wine Competition
Thursday, 11 November 2010
Press Release: Judge Rock
Media release
Kiwi Judge Rocks in Sydney International Wine Competition
Micro Pinot Noir producer Judge Rock has scored highly in a top Australian competition.
The Judge Rock Pinot Noir 2008 received a Top 100 Blue-Gold award at the 2011
Sydney International Wine Competition.
The Top 100 Wines carry the distinction of being in the top 5 per cent of the
thirteen Style Categories of the 2011 Competition.
The Sydney International Wine Competition is one of the few wine competitions
in the world to award trophies to wine for their compatibility with food.
Judged by an international panel of wine experts, the aim is to help consumers
choose pleasing wines to complement dishes they enjoy at their dining table.
Judge Rock Vintner Angela Jacobson says the award is a significant endorsement
for the Judge Rock Pinot Noir, a first time entrant in the SIWC.
“This is a fantastic result. Our Central Otago Pinot Noir has rated consistently
with five star Decanter and Cuisine for 2006 and Elite Gold Air NZ for 2007
and now Top 100 Blue Gold for 2008 Pinot Noir.”
“The 2008 Central Otago vintage produced an elegant wine with pretty flora
and violet notes with long spectrum of flavours with mushroom and thyme and
soft layers of textural tannins- ideal with food ” she says.
The 2008 Judge Rock is currently only available direct from the Judge Rock,
with a RRP $38.00.
wines@judgerock.co.nz
www.judgerock.co.nz
ph/fax 03 448 5059
Press Release
From Judge Rock Pinot Wines
Dated 31 December 2009
Following on from the success of Judge Rock Pinot Noir, Angela Chiaroni, President of Marketing announced that the “St Laurent” 2009 from Judge Rock will be released in 2010.
Angela said:
“St Laurent is an ancient seedling of Pinot Noir originating from Burgundy and grown principally in Austria and Czechoslovakia. This grape is described in Jancis Robinson's Guide to Wine Grapes as capable of producing the finest quality wines with deep coloured, velvety, juicy fruit, and low tannin. At the 2004 Bragato Conference Dr Richard Smart recommended St Laurent for New Zealand conditions. DNA evidence indicates that St Laurent otherwise known as Pinot St Laurent is a child of Pinot Noir and another unknown variety. In June 2006 we visited Joseph Umathum in Austria. Joseph has selected the best of existing St Laurent grape material from the region and is undertaking further research to find the best St Laurent. He gave us a tasting of some 13 wines back to 1993 including his 1993 St Laurent that won the Burgundy Style Trophy, London 1995.
We imported St Laurent in tissue culture form, 10mm high test tube plants, in 2001 from Vancouver flying out 11 September 2001, narrowly missing the grounding of all flights in North America.
Vintage 2007 produced 14 bottles and vintage 2008 150 bottles both as experimental lots. However from 2009 we have 3 barrels or 75 cases which while still an experimental size will give the variety some visibility. This was uncharted territory and we were thankful for the support from New Zealand Sustainable Farming Fund.”
The Judge Rock 5 Ha vineyard Alexandra, Central Otago is one of the smallest family owned wine labels in New Zealand.
For further information contact
Angela Chiaroni
wines@judgerock.co.nz
03 4485059
www.judgerock.co.nz
Dated 31 December 2009.
Press Release from Judge Rock Pinot Wines Central Otago NZ Date 29 April 2009
One of Central Otago, New Zealand’s smallest family owned vineyard Judge Rock has been invited to the 2009 New World Decanter Fine Wine Encounter. The tasting organized by Steven Spurrier’s Decanter magazine follows Judge Rock Pinot Noir award of Five Stars in The September 2008 edition of Decanter from some 154 New Zealand Pinot Noir. Judge Rock wines are crafted by Carol Bunn Central Otago’s Queen of Pinot from Vinpro.
Spurrier has received several international awards for wine writing and is a
regular judge on the international wine tasting circuit and the chairman of
the Japan Wine Challenge and the Decanter World Wine Awards. In the 2008 film
Bottle Shock Steven is portrayed by Alan Rickman in the Judge of Paris when
California wines where judged against France wines. When the results were unveiled
a California wine had won top honors, to the chagrin of the wine experts.
The tasting 9 May 2009 in London is limited to 60 premium wineries from the new world including South Africa, USA, Argentina, Chile, Australia and New Zealand. Following this event Judge Rock will be showcased in the London International Wines Fair 12-14 May.
The Judge Rock Pinot Noir 2007 also earned an Elite Gold medal, which is awarded to wines scoring 19 points and above out of 20 in the Air New Zealand Wine Awards organised by New Zealand Winegrowers, the national organisation for the country’s 1,300 grapegrowers and winemakers.
Judge Rock’s aim is for elegant sensuous Pinot Noir for intimate times with friends and family.
Decanter Magazine on Judge Rock
NZ Pinor Noir Tasting NZ Pinot
Air New Zealand Wine Awards: Air NZ
Judge Rock Pinot Wines: Judge
Rock
Press Release Monday 22 November 2008
Judge Rock Pinot Noir 2007
wins Elite Gold (1 of 8) from 296 Pinot Noir
at Air New Zealand Wines Awards 2008
International judge Nick Stock, who also judged the competition in 2004, said the standard of wines entered into the Air New Zealand Wine Awards never fails to impress.
"Once again I've been impressed by the quality and consistency of the wines at the Air New Zealand Wine Awards. The competition for gold medals, elite gold medals and trophies was phenomenal. The depth and breadth of these champion wines across a convincing range of varieties, regions and styles truly asserts New Zealand's growing reputation as a strong global force," Mr Stock said.
"Fresh dark cherry and plum aromas with subtle savoury notes followed by a refreshing, fine finish."
Judge Rock Venus Pinot Noir 2007 wins Bronze at Air New Zealand Wines Awards 2008
International judge, Nick Stock, who also judged the competition in 2004, said he was impressed by the high standard of the entries this year.
"New Zealand excels at delivering wines that are direct and appealing. I've seen a huge increase in the quality of Syrah since 2004, however the line-up of Pinot Noir across a range of regions was a highlight for me.
Chair of judges, Steve Smith, MW, said that the Pinot Noir category was the highlight of the awards with 21 gold medals.
"Represented by two exceptional vintages in 2006 and 2007, the Pinot Noir entered this year was impressive. With gold medals awarded to wines from the Auckland, Wellington/Wairarapa, Marlborough and Otago regions, we are beginning to see great regional and sub-regional expression, and a real willingness from winemakers to stretch the winemaking boundaries," Mr Smith said.
There were 296 entries in the Pinot Noir section.
Judge Rock Pinot Noir Wins
Treble Whammy with 5 Stars Decanter Wine Magazine UK
Saturday, 26 July 2008, 5.00 pm
Press Release: Judge Rock Pinot Wines
Press Release from Judge Rock Pinot Wines Central Otago
26 July 2008
Judge Rock Pinot Noir wins Treble Whammy and 5 Stars in UK Decanter Wine Magazine
Angela and Paul Jacobson's micro 5 hectare family vineyard in Alexandra wins treble whammy with it's third significant award.
Judge Rock Pinot Noir 2006 has earned five stars in the upcoming September
edition of UK Decanter wine magazine tasting of New Zealand Pinot Noir.
The Decanter is the most influential wine magazine in the United Kingdom,
and wines were judged by a panel of internationally recognized wine experts.
In addition to this Five Star Award, the Judge Rock Pinot Noir 2006 earned
a 90/100 rating from Neal Martin in May’s edition of The Wine Advocate
in the USA. On the Robert Parker scale, a score of 90-95 indicates “an
outstanding wine of exceptional complexity and character". First published
in 1978, The Wine Advocate and Robert parker has a profound effect on market
demand for fine wines around the world. Robert Parker is described as “the
most influential wine critic in the world.” Neal Martin joined The
Wine Advocate as a contributor in 2006. His article and enthusiastic review
on NZ wines is now available to subscribers on www.erobertparker.com.
Judge Rock 2006 Pinot Noir was also awarded the Five Stars-Best Buy in Cuisine Magazine Christmas 2007
Limited stock available from Glengarry Wines and direct from winery at www.JudgeRock.co.nz
RRP $35
UK Decanter Magazine awards Judge Rock Pinot Noir 2006 Five stars!
September 2008
This is our best International award.
It is flattering to receive this recognition for our hard work and that of our winemaker Carol Bunn and her Vinpro team.
As one of the smallest family owned Pinot Noir Vineyards in Central Otago, New Zealand we feel a emotional glow knowing that people enjoy our wine around the world.
Following a visit to New Zealand in January this year, Neal Martin of Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate USA has awarded a 90/100 rating for the Judge Rock 2006 Pinot Noir.
On the Robert Parker scale, a score of 90 indicates “an outstanding wine of exceptional complexity and character".
First published in 1978, The Wine Advocate now has a profound effect on both prices and market demand for fine wines around the world. Robert Parker is described as “the most influential wine critic in the world.”
Neal Martin joined The Wine Advocate as a contributor in 2006. His eagerly awaited article and enthusiastic review on NZ wines is now available to subscribers on www.erobertparker.com.
Judge Rock 2008 Vintage
Each year at Judge Rock Vineyard we walk the tight rope of climatic extremes.
We are amongst the hottest and coldest sites in Central Otago.
Sounds silly but we are very hot in summer with 35 C days, but in Autumn, frosts in the Alexandra basin nip at our heels.
We choose not to use water to frost fight in Autumn but aim to have our grapes ripe before the frosts strike.
This year was no different. After an exceptional hot summer, we had a cooler period in March and ripening was slightly delayed and then the nervous moments set in. We waited on a knife edge until the moment of picking, based on flavours. Harvest began in earnest the day after ANZAC Day 26 April.
Our harvet is dependent on fruit set in December as cool wet weather can dramatically reduce the size of bunches. In 2007 we had 40g bunches compared to 100g bunches in 2008.
2002 we picked 750kg or enough for 2 barrels.
2003 we picked 4.5 tonne
2004 we picked 8 tonne
2005 3.5 tonne
2006 14.5 tonne
2007 7.0 tonne
2008 14.0 tonne. Plus 180kg of St Laurent for an experiemental lot.
From each year we learn a little more based on observation in the vineyard, our wine maker and our finished bottled wines a year later.
We can now relax knowing that our wine is in the great hands of our winemaker Carol Bunn.
Winegrowing teaches us to be patient, trusting and optimistic: all this is character building when time is so precious in our busy lives.