Corkers of 2010!

Written by Ian Robertson on 31st January 2011

We at Wine Without Wank are like any other journal/magazine/web site that pontificates about a certain topic in that we of course must have annual Awards!

And so, without further ado, I present to you the Wine Without Wank Corkers Of The Year for 2010! (sorry, a little late this year...)

By way of conveying some understanding to you, let me make the rules quite clear.

1. The Awards cover the year of 2010 – any wine tasted and reviewed in that time qualifies despite the vintage. Given that I don’t manage to taste everything from everyone released in any set year (let alone back vintages) this is not the be all and end all of wine awards – it is one individual experience of his wine life in a set period.

2. Some of the wines might have been released at the start of the year, making them now either unavailable or difficult to get – try the auction sites!

3. Value awards are based on the Wine Without Wank Value Rating system

4. Quality Awards – well, it makes sense that of the wines rated Outstanding for Quality over the year, the ones that stood out above the others are selected!

So, onto the winners!

Value White 2010 –

McWilliam's Mount Pleasant Elizabeth Semillon 2010

How amazing that it has been so long between Elizabeth Semillon's for me. This wine is a consistant winner with each vintage - and every so often it is a classic. I think it is a classic this year, and well worth stocking up on at the prices it is being discounted too by the chain stores. Buy one case for drinking now and one case for the cellar. Click here for the Review!

Value Red 2010 –

Mike Press Wines Shiraz 2009

The revolution that is Mike Press Wines impacted me this year after hearing about them for a whle now, and the Shiraz is truly a well crafted wine for the money. The thing that strikes me is that it is not a full bodied fruit forward style for a value wine - it is lean, spicey and has some real grip to it. Bravo for food wines! Click here for the Review!

Best Quality Red 2010 –

Cullen Diana Madeline Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2004

A real dual this year between two wines that sat strong in my memory. In one corner, a welcome return for an old favourite. On the other - a brash new contender. In the end in a real split decision, the Cullen beat out the Yelland & Papps Divine Shiraz 08. (sidenote - congrats to the Yelland & Papps folks - a cracking wine!) The Cullen is all about balance - the fruit is in check but appealing, the length massively long, the style lean and elegant yet mouthfilling. And the tannins...ahhh, the tannins are the work of angels. Lovely wine. Click here for the Review!

Best Quality White 2010 –

Mesh Riesling 2008

This label has always been very good, but has been second fiddle to Grosset Rieslings when it came to the crunch. This year though, in a hard fought battle, it came out on top. The Mesh was that classic mix of complex, flinty stoicism and delicious lemony citrus. With a classic zippy length and a real "is there any more in that bottle?" feel to it, it takes the cake this year. Click here for the Review!

Congratulations to all our worthy winners – a genuine invisible trophy is on its way to you!

Some exciting times are ahead in 2011, with some further consolidation in the industry likely, well known winemakers leaving well known labels and the continuing emergence of quality producers. I look forward to it!

Slainte!