Yarra Valley wine wins national challenge

A Yarra Valley winery has come out on top in the 2018 Langton’s James Halliday Chardonnay Challenge for the first time.

A. Rodda Wines’ 2017 Willowlake Vineyard Chardonnay fought off 552 other chardonnays from across 36 regions to earn the title of best chardonnay.

Scooping 97 out of 100 points, it’s the first time a Yarra Valley winery has won the top gold since the show began in 2012.

Of the 2017 Willowlake Vineyard Chardonnay Chair of Judges Chris Crawford – Crown Melbourne’s General Manager, Beverage – said the wine showed “elegance, balance and purity, with plenty of flint and pithy, zesty fruit”, plus a “lovely texture and persistence”.

James Halliday added: “The cool 2017 vintage in the Yarra Valley resulted in purity, finesse and length in many lovely chardonnays. Adrian Rodda’s wine is a prime example,”

A further eight regional winners were also picked for scoring more than 95 points. These wineries are based in the Adelaide Hills, Beechworth, Hunter Valley, Margaret River, Mornington Peninsula, Tasmania and Tumbarumba.

The Langton’s James Halliday Chardonnay Challenge seeks to find the best chardonnay in the country in each given year, with all wines assessed in regional classifications by a panel of judges.

Chardonnay lovers can find out more about this year’s Langton’s James Halliday Chardonnay Challenge winners by viewing the announcement by James Halliday here: chardonnaychallenge.com.au/videos