Grampians winery wins Jimmy Watson Trophy

Fallen Giants from Western Victoria’s Grampians has won the Jimmy Watson Trophy at the Royal Melbourne Wine Awards. The 2019 Fallen Giants Shiraz ($35) collected the award for the Best Young Red, which is widely regarded as one of Australian wine’s top honours. The same wine also won Best Victorian Shiraz and the Trevor Mast Trophy for Best Shiraz. 

Chair of judges Matt Harrop said that awarding the Jimmy Watson had been especially tough this year due to the high calibre of contenders. The Fallen Giants Shiraz had to "fight it out", he said. 

The wine comes from a vineyard previously owned by Trevor Mast of Mount Langi Ghiran, making the namesake trophy win even more significant. Siblings Rebecca and Aaron Drummond are behind the operation, and the wine is made by Justin Purser of Best’s Wines, who was also responsible for the 2017 Halliday Wine of the Year.  

Rebecca Drummond of Fallen Giants with winemaker Justin Purser.
 
After a hiatus last year, the Royal Melbourne Wine Awards returned last night (December 2), presenting more than 30 trophies, which were judged from over 2000 entries that came in from around the country. 

Among the other big winners was Shaw + Smith, with its 2020 Tolpuddle Chardonnay scooping the whites. The Tasmanian wine received the Francios De Castella Trophy for Best Young White, Douglas Seabrook Trophy for Best Single Vineyard Wine, and Best Chardonnay Trophy. 

Shaw + Smith's Michael Hill Smith collected multiple trophies for their 2020 Tolpuddle Chardonnay.   

The Tasmanian site’s viticulturist and vineyard manger Murray Leake and Carlos Souris also took out the Kym Ludvigsen Trophy for Viticultural Excellence. In addition, the 2020 Shaw + Smith Lenswood Vineyard Chardonnay also received the Best South Australian Chardonnay – with the 2019 vintage of this wine also shortlisted for the same trophy. 

The James Halliday Trophy for Best Pinot Noir went to the 2020 Lowestoft La Maison Pinot Noir and the Tony Jordan Trophy for Best Sparkling – honouring the late Chandon founder for the first time – went to the 2015 Wicks Estate Pamela Chardonnay Pinot Noir. 

For full results, see here.