Critics silenced after wines acclaimed

Tony Bish with the Sacred Hill Deerstalkers Syrah which is one of a dozen Gimblett Gravels wines to make the annual selection. Photo / Glenn Taylor

The selection of the latest annual Gimblett Gravels Vintage Selection was not only a way to spread the word about the virtues of the unique region but also a fine way to silence a few critics who had cast doubt over results from the challenging 2012 season.

Gimblett Gravels Winegrowers Association chairman Tony Bish said the top dozen wines from the region had clearly won the approval of the man who had been the independent selector of all five vintages released since 2008.

Sydney-based master of wine Andrew Caillard applauded the devotion and skills of the winemakers who rose to the challenge of creating fine wines from one of the most difficult vintages in recent times.

The summer or 2012 was one dominated by cloud and temperatures below average - enemies of a classic vintage.

He was impressed with the dozen wines he settled on.

"There were many fragrant expressive wines with generous fruit complexity and underlying savoury nuances," he said.

The best of them possessed "mid-palate richness and volume".

Mr Bish was delighted with Mr Caillard's summary.

"We had faith in what we had produced of course, but we needed that independent endorsement."

He said the ability to create quality wines from such a difficult year was a credit to the sub-region of Gimblett Gravels.

He added that Bay winegrowers and winemakers and produced some impressive results from the challenge of 2012.

It was especially pleasing to the association that it now had the opportunity to "quieten some critics who have judged the vintage before the wines themselves".

Looking ahead, Mr Bish said the 2013 vintage selection, created in one of the best growing seasons ever in the region, would be "exciting".