Recent Awards at Highfield Estate 2005

Highfield Tri-Nations Success

Recently we received the opportunity to participate in an exclusive ‘invitation only’ wine competition, the ‘Tri Nations Wine Challenge’. The concept being that the judges select seven of the top wines from New Zealand, Australia and South Africa in each varietal class and the wines go head to head in a Tri Nations taste off.

Two Highfield wines, Highfield Sauvignon Blanc 2005 and Elstree Cuvee Brut 1999</a> were selected for entry into this unique wine show. With such a high caliber of international judges and with only a few wines from each country asked to enter, the invitation to submit two wines was a great achievement in itself. The Highfield Sauvignon Blanc 2005 won 2nd place in the Sauvignon Blanc category ahead of all Australian and South African wines.

This award adds to the success the Highfield Sauvignon Blanc 2005 has already attained, with the 5 star, 95 point rating in Gourmet Traveller WINE and the Trophy for Champion Export Wine at the Royal Easter show Wine Awards 2006. The wine has contributed to the outstanding reputation for the consistent quality and style of wine from Highfield Estate.

2005 Sauvignon Blanc - Gold Medal New Zealand Royal Easter Show

This is the 7th consecutive vintage of Highfield Sauvignon Blanc to win Gold, testimony to the consistency of Highfield's quality and style.

2005 Sauvignon Blanc - 95 points Gourmet Traveller

2005 Highfield Sauvignon Blanc awarded 95 points by Mr. Bob Campbell MW, Gourmet Traveler Wine

"Moderately concentrated with weight and herbal flavours that fall into the riper end of the spectrum, lemongrass and red capsicum. Vibrant, high-toned sauvignon blanc in a strongly varietal style."

HIGHFIELD TRIUMPHS AT 2005 SYDNEY IWC

Highfield Estate has triumphed at the 2005 Sydney International Wine Competition by winning the Air Sea Global Perpetual Trophy for "Best Pinot Noir of Competition". The trophy winning wine, Highfield Marlborough Pinot Noir 2002, had earlier won a highly sought after 'Top 100 Blue Gold' at the annual Sydney International Wine Competition which culminated with a spectacular black-tie dinner on the weekend. The same wine also won gold medals at the recent WINPAC (Wines of the Pacific Rim) 2005 Wine Competition in Hong Kong and the 2004 Royal Hobart Wine Show.

Highfield Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2004 also won a 'Blue Gold' at the Sydney Top 100 which is part of the 2005 Sydney International Wine Competition.

Highfield Estate's managing director, David Direen, was on hand to collect the latest trophy and says the Pinot Noir's initial success - making the top 5% highest scoring wines of the 2005 Sydney International Competition which numbered 2000 from 78 countries - was exciting but winning the trophy is "absolutely fantastic".
"We are thrilled that our Pinot Noir has won such a major accolade after being released at the end of last year," he says. "It is particularly satisfying for our winemaker, Alistair Soper, who is clearly demonstrating that the Marlborough region is capable of producing high quality, internationally award-winning Pinot Noir."

Soper says he is thrilled with the trophy which follows a string of gold medals for his Highfield Marlborough Chardonnay 2002 and Highfield Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2004.

"Our Sauvignon Blanc is one of the most consistently awarded wines in New Zealand and while I am thrilled with its success, it is pleasing that another variety - and my particular favourite - has been recognised by a panel of international judges."
The following is a selection of comments about Highfield Marlborough Pinot Noir 2002 from the judges of the 2005 Sydney International Wine Competition:

*Darryl Beeson: "Red fruit and complex mineral in the nose. Rich red fruit flavours with orange zest and pot pourri like spice". *Ivan Donaldson: "A real impression of sweetness of fruit. It was quite a big, plump wine and seductive. There was a good balance of tannin and acids to keep it together and in focus. It was improved by the food." *Ken Gargett: "Dark berries, cold tea. Good complexity. A lovely supply texture. There are some attractive, slightly bitter tannins on the finish and there's good length. It's a more exotic style o Pinot but a very attractive one. The combination takes both the food and the wine to greater heights."
*Kym Milne: "Garney, complex with a touch of reduced armpit character on the nose. Very complex barnyard forest floor character and some good fruit. Quite a rich wine on the palate. Very rich and velvety with some good, firm tannins. Quite a delicious food wine." *Peter Forestal: "Attractive, focused wine with darker berry characters.
There's a bit of mulberry to flesh it out. Velvety wine."
* Sue Van Wycke: "Medium dark garnet. Spicy, charry, smoked meat bouquet. Very fragrant. Spicy, rich and sweetly smooth on the palate. Fine structure and depth."

We are pleased announce Highfield has won two Gold Medals for its wines at the 52nd New Zealand Royal Easter Show Wine Awards 2005.

The much awarded Highfield Sauvignon Blanc 2004 won it's 5th gold medal, in consecutive wine shows, since release in October at these awards. Previous gold medals have been awarded to this wine from Judges at the Christchurch Casino's First Taste Awards 2004, Air New Zealand Wine Awards, Wines of the Pacific Rim, (HK) and the Sydney International Wine Competition (AUS).
Highfield Sauvignon Blanc remains our most important variety with 97% of it's production being sold to export markets throughout the world. Some say it's important to get the little things right, well getting the big things right is pretty important too, especially in today's competitive market.

The second and perhaps most rewarding gold medal for Highfield Winemaker, Alistair Soper, is for the Highfield Marlborough Chardonnay 2002. The Highfield Chardonnay evolution has, for Al, been a path of passion. This Chardonnay receives a lot of winemaking attention. Clonal and site selection, whole bunch pressing, solids ferment, malo-lactic you name it. Each barrel is subject to a rigorous de-classification regime. The final blend, somewhat smaller than the amount of available wine, reflects the evolving Highfield style and retains its consistent qualities. We are very happy with this wine and pleased the style has been rewarded by the judges.

The Winpac (Wines Of The Pacific Rim) 2005 Wine Competition has just been concluded. The awards were announced at the Vintners Dinner on Friday 27th of January at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Hong Kong.

We are proud to let you know that Highfield Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir both won Gold Medals at this competitive and influential wine show.

Entrants from, predominantly New World countries including the USA, compete annually for honours at this International Wine Competition. Hong Kong remains a city in the International spotlight as a trading and tourist capital and as such wine brands compete for their unfair share of attention. Hong Kong is an extremely competitive market.

So, to update the Gold Medal tally for Highfield Estate this season, Sauvignon Blanc 8, Pinot Noir 3.