First Glass Wines 2023 Wine Options Competition

Wine Options as we all know it celebrated 42 years of competition last weekend. It's an achievement we are proud of - it's probably the longest run of any options anywhere and that event in 1991 at the Downtown Centre where 101 teams took part was almost certainly the largest single serious options competition held anywhere in the world. Wine Options is competitive, it's fun, challenging, has never been profitable but hopefully it will continue into it's 43rd year or more. These are the wines that confronted our teams this weekend.

Chalk Hill Sonoma Coast Chardonnay 2019
Villa Maria Library Release Chardonnay 2010
Peter Lehmann Wigan Riesling 2015
Forrest Botrytised Riesling 2019
Felton Road Block 5 Pinot Noir 2002
Mudbrick Reserve Syrah 2019
Yalumba Octavius Barossa Shiraz 2016
Ulisse Amaranta Montepulciano d'Abruzzo

There are always some doubts when you are opening seriously aged wines but the Villa Maria 2010 Chardonnay still retains plenty of fruit and acid - could still be active in 5 years time and while the colour of the Felton Road Block 5 Pinot 2002 has dimmed, it's still alive, a testament to the wine making and the quality of the vintage. Many of us recall the arrival of those two dark inky Pinot Noirs from 2002 - Akarua and Mt Difficulty, we had never experienced such dark, luscious Pinots, surely they wouldn't last - wrong we were, very wrong.

The competition was close all day with just a question separating several teams in the finish.

1st. Est! 147pts - Nigel Cottle, Lee Findaly, Gabor, Malcolm Meads.

2nd. Blue Nun the Wiser 142pts - Mark Ashcroft, Steve Clissold and Craig Innes.

3rd equal. Polly Rogered 138pts - Terry Anderson, Ross Anderson, Mike Mackle and John Wetherall. (Original team lineup from 30 years ago)

3rd equal. Pinot Evil 138pts - John Beaumont, Richard Grigg, Sue Olivecrona, Lloyd Olivecrona.

Best team name - Marcell Meursault
Best team costume - Marcell Meursault - terrific matching of costumes to the name, one of the best ever.
Team Costume runner up - Sparkling Queens

Our 2023 Competiton Winners Malcolm Nigel Lee & Gabor

Geri Dean Michelle & Ray

Madhu Penny Claudette & Sandra