28 August 2006

Wolf Blass Platinum Label Shiraz 2003 has been judged as the World’s Greatest Shiraz, in Winestates’ inaugural World’s Greatest Shiraz Challenge, which features in its September edition.

Winestate, with the help of 10 prominent judges, evaluated over 400 Shiraz and Shiraz-dominant blends in blind tastings to decide the best wines in various price categories, choosing an ultimate grand champion: the World’s Greatest Shiraz; and two runner up wines.

Wolf Blass Platinum Label Shiraz 2003 secured the top honours from Bremerton’s 2003 Old Adam Langhorne Creek (first runner up) and Kaesler’s 2004 Barossa Valley Shiraz - The Bogan (second runner up).

Chris Hatcher, Wolf Blass Chief Winemaker, was delighted with the Winestate Award and said it recognised Caroline Dunn’s success in creating a world class, iconic wine with the Platinum Label.

"When Caroline joined the Wolf Blass team in 1998 I challenged her to create a new iconic wine that would signal that Wolf Blass wines were moving forward and becoming more contemporary. I had absolute confidence that Caroline would do that and this award is a well deserved recognition of her achievements," says Chris.

"To be judged as the World’s Greatest Shiraz against many other great wines shows that Wolf Blass wines are not only contemporary, but are setting the benchmark for the industry. I am quite excited about that."

Caroline Dunn, Wolf Blass Senior Winemaker, said the award was particularly pleasing given the challenging 2003 vintage.

"The reason the wine shines is a result of careful fruit selection. There are always going to be good parcels of fruit, but in a vintage that struggles, there are just less of them."

"We take a lot of care when picking the fruit, and the final blending. It’s the small details at those times that can change a wine and make it outstanding", says Caroline.

Wolf Blass Platinum Label Shiraz 2003 is available at selected fine wine stores and has a recommended retail price of $180.

For more information or images please contact:
Nicole Lyons
Wolf Blass, Communications Manager
P: 03 8626 3419
M: 0438 770 119
E: nicole.lyons@fostersgroup.com

Note to editors: Wolf Blass Wines was established in the Barossa Valley in 1966 and has grown from humble beginnings to become one of the world’s most successful and awarded wine brands.

Wolf Blass - Australian Wine at its Peak