Shiraz takes centre stag at Reillys!
Author: Emma Purvis
On Saturday 13th October 2018, owners of Reillys Wines Justin and Julie Ardill were thrilled to receive the TROPHY for CHAMPION SHIRAZ/SYRAH & Predominant Blends at the 2018 New Zealand International Wine Show awards dinner in Auckland for their 2016 Dry Land Shiraz.
In a category that was described by Competition Convenor Kingsley Wood as “simply outstanding, one of the finest line ups of wine that the judges will have ever faced here in New Zealand”, Reillys 2016 Dry Land Shiraz was awarded the Trophy ahead of 38 other Gold Medal winning wines including some top drops from South Australia and New Zealand.
Judges describe the wine as “a formidable Shiraz exhibiting blackberry jam, cherry pie and chocolate coated hazelnut flavours with a lavishly textured palate that’s substantial and concentrated. Outstanding.”
Reillys Wines owner and winemaker Justin Ardill graciously accepted the award describing it as a “huge award for a little wine company called Reillys” and just the fifth trophy received in the company’s 25 year history. He made special mention of his wife Julie, NZ distributor Alastair from PW Wines and viticulturalist Rob Smyth with whom he has been making wine for 25 years with what he describes as a “passion for making wine, it comes from the vineyard”.
Along with the Trophy for Champion Shiraz, Reillys Wines also received two further Gold Medals for both 2015 and 2016 Reillys Shiraz following on from the 2014 Reillys Shiraz receiving a Gold Medal at the 2017 New Zealand International Wine Show. Full results are available at www.nziws.co.nz.
The Shiraz accolades continued as Reillys 2014 RCV ‘Epitaph’ Shiraz was announced as the $100-$200 Category Winner in Winestate Magazine’s World’s Greatest Shiraz Challenge for 2018. Placed fourth overall out of 431 wines, it is in prestigious company alongside the 2013 Penfolds Grange Shiraz which was the $200+ Category Winner and the overall winner.
Reillys’ award winning Shiraz is crafted from the family owned estate vineyards in the Clare Valley which include parcels of old, dry grown vines along with the younger St Clare vineyard planted in 1999 in Watervale. Justin maintains his commitment to using traditional winemaking techniques of hand plunging, open fermenting and oak barrel maturation to allow the quality of the fruit and the unique terroir to truly shine.
For further information and sales please contact :
Reillys Wines Cellar Door | 08 8843 9013 | E cellardoor@reillyswines.com.au
New Zealand Sales & Distribution | Alastair Picton-Warlow | M 0064 275 799 463 | E info@pwwine.co.nz
Reillys Wines Marketing & PR | Emma Purvis | E emma@reillyswines.com.au