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Cellar Selection Chardonnay has had recent international success, being awarded 89 Points in the May edition of Wine Spectator Magazine in the USA.
'Bright & zippy, with lime and star fruit flavours that keep welling up as the finish lingers'.
89 Points, Harvey Steiman, Wine Spectator, USA, 31 May, 2010
'Ruby, carmine and velvet, midway in depth, on a par with Coleraine. Is this the finest Cabernet Franc so far made in New Zealand? I think so, for the winemaker has respected the fruit by not swamping it with oak, as most producers have done previously. Instead the wondrous red rose florality and red berry fruits of cabernet franc dominate the bouquet. This wine is pleasing on the palate, helped by seeming not quite bone dry (the actual figure is well within the range considered 'dry' in reds). The quality of red fruits is superb, the oak subtle and potentially cedary, the wine truly an interim New Zealand benchmark for caberent franc, subtle and fine rather than big and clumsy / oaky. It is not a big wine, more on the scale of the Cheval Blanc, but the physiological maturity, and quality of oaking to reveal rather than obscure the variety, is exciting. It will be absolutely essential stock for education and training purposes, and lectures and tastings, quite apart from drinking. This wine is a revelation. Cellar 5 - 12 years.'
Geoff Kelly, GeoffKellyWineReviews.co.nz, 2010
Success for Cellar Selection Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2009 - December 2009
Sileni Estates Cellar Selection Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2009 has received recent international acclaim at both the Sydney International Wine Competition and in the United States most influential wine magazine - Wine Spectator.
Sileni's Cellar Selection Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2009 has been awarded a Blue-Gold at the recently judged Sydney International Wine Competition. Chief Winemaker Grant Edmonds comments, "We are very excited to be awarded a Blue-Gold for our 2009 Sauvignon Blanc as it affirms our commitment to making food friendly styles of Sauvignon Blanc. When Sileni Estates started producing Sauvignon Blanc in 2002 it was with an emphasis on a riper style of Sauvignon Blanc with good palate weight. our use of Hawke's Bay Semillon in all of our Sauvignon Blanc adds a richness to the wine that helps to tame some of the overt aromatics and provides flavour complexity that ensures a food friendly style".
The Sydney award comes after recent success in Wine Spectator Magazine, where the Cellar Selection Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2009 was awarded 90 points, and in being awarded the TizWine Consumer Choice Award.
Hawke's Bay Winery Awarded Trophy for Champion Merlot - November 2007
Sileni Estates “The Triangle” Merlot 2005 has just been awarded the Champion Merlot Trophy at the 2007 Air New Zealand Wine Awards, in addition to being one of the inaugural winners of a Pure Elite Gold Medal recognising wines that achieve a score of 19.5 or more out of 20.
The 2007 Air New Zealand Wine Awards were outstanding for the Hawke’s Bay region with the Champion Merlot Trophy being one of seven trophies awarded to Hawke’s Bay wines at the awards dinner on Saturday night.
Grant Edmonds, Sileni Estates Chief Winemaker was on hand at the gala awards dinner and commented that “the new judging emphasis on wines with texture, complexity and balance fits Sileni’s wine styles very well. This shift in direction is a great thing for New Zealand wine internationally as it shows a real maturity in winemaking style.”
Sileni Estates “The Triangle” Merlot 2005 is the one of the winery’s flagship wines and is from Sileni’s “Triangle Vineyards” situated in Hawke’s Bay’s Triangle sub-region. Edmonds goes on to comment that “our Merlot is certainly hitting its stride now that the vines are reaching maturity. Winning the Champion Merlot Trophy and being awarded one of the first Pure Elite Gold medals for sustainable wine growing practices is great recognition for our efforts to become environmentally responsible wine producers.”
CEO and Owner Graeme Avery said “it is becoming increasingly important in New Zealand and in our export markets to employ sustainable practices in the production of our wines. We are honoured to have won the Champion Merlot Trophy for a sustainably produced wine as it recognises the increasing need for minimal intervention in grape growing and winemaking."
Double Trophy Success for Sileni Estates in Japan - September 2007
Hawke’s Bay winery Sileni Estates has just been awarded the Trophy for the Best New World White Wine and the Air New Zealand Trophy for the Best New Zealand Wine at the prestigious Japan Wine Challenge from over 1700 wines entered into the competition from 21 different countries.
The two trophies were awarded to Sileni’s 2006 Estate Selection “The Lodge” Chardonnay which is made from grapes grown on Sileni Estates own vineyards located in the Maraekakaho area of Hawke’s Bay. Chief Winemaker Grant Edmonds says “that it is fantastic to see our flagship Hawke’s Bay Chardonnay, “The Lodge”, pick up two trophies in such a well respected competition as the Japan Wine Challenge.” He goes on to comment that “Japan has always been one of Sileni’s key markets and we are thrilled to see another New Zealand varietal adding to the success achieved by Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir on the international stage.”
Coincidentally Sileni Estates heard the news of their trophy success when their Japanese Distributor Enoteca s.P.a and clients from the Ritz Carlton Tokyo, Mandarin Oriental Tokyo and Zetton Group Japan were visiting the winery last week. Tetsuya Hashimoto, Wine Division Manager, Enoteca s.P.a congratulated Sileni on their success and commented that “we will continue to recommend “The Lodge” to all our clients in Japan with confidence”.
Success in San Francisco - July 2007
Sileni Estates has just been awarded a Double Gold at the prestigious San Francisco International Wine Challenge from over 3500 wines entered into the competition from 21 different countries.
Sileni’s 2006 Estate Selection “The Straits” Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc was one of only three Sauvignon Blanc wines awarded a Double Gold, ahead of Sauvignon Blanc from Chile, America, Australia, France, South Africa and others from New Zealand.
Chief Winemaker Grant Edmonds says “that it is wonderful to see our reserve Sauvignon Blanc, “The Straits”, pick up a Double Gold in such a well respected competition as the San Francisco International Wine Competition. “The Straits” is a blend of classic Sauvignon Blanc flavours from two of our original Marlborough growers based in the Awatere and Wairau Valley’s. Both growers consistently provide Sileni with exceptionally high quality fruit and it is great to see their hard work in the vineyard recognised in this way.”
Sileni Estates has had continued international success with its Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc having picked up a raft of international awards in recent years. Sileni’s Cellar Selection 2006 Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc was also awarded Gold in San Francisco and won the Trophy for top Sauvignon at the Indy International Wine Competition last year in Indiana, another large USA competition. The Tahuna 2006 Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, a Sileni export label won Gold at the recent Korean Wine Challenge in Seoul.
We are also very pleased with the consumer success of our Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc wines in Europe, North America, Asia and Australasia, where the less assertive style has found favour for enjoyment with today’s lighter, healthier Asian cuisine in particular, said Sileni owner Graeme Avery. Grant Edmonds says “that it is great to see all levels of our Sauvignon Blancs being recognised for their quality and less assertive food friendly style that we achieve by adding a proportion of Hawke’s Bay Semillon to the blend.” Sileni Estates is thrilled with the awards they have just won at the China International Wine & Spirit Challenge. These awards are very timely as Sileni has recently started exporting to the emerging wine market in China.
Recent Gold Medal Awards
- Cellar Selection Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2009 - 90 Points, Dean Tudor, World Wine Watch, Canada, 15 May, 2010
- Cellar Selection Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2009 - 90 Points, Harvey Steiman, Wine Spectator, USA, 31 Dec - 28 Feb, 2010
- Cellar Selection Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2008 - Old Ebbitt Grill, International Wines for Oysters Competition, Maryland, USA, 2008
- Cellar Selection Syrah 2007 - The Wine Review 11th Annual Wine Challenge, Singapore, 2009
- Estate Selection Benchmark Block Two 'Omaka Slopes' Sauvignon Blanc 2008, Royal Easter Show Wine Awards, (NZ), 2009
Recent Silver Medal Awards
- Estate Selection 'The Plains' Merlot Franc 2008 - Royal Easter Show Wine Awards 2010
- Estate Selection Benchmark Block 'Trinity Vines' Sauvignon Blanc 2009 - Royal Easter Show Wine Awards 2010
- Cellar Selection Sauvignon Blanc 2008 - New World Wine Awards, (NZ), 2009
- Cellar Selection Pinot Gris 2009 - Silver Medal & Best in Class - International Wine & Spirit Competition, London, 2009
- Cellar Selection Chardonnay 2007 - Japan Wine Challenge, Tokyo, 2009
- Cellar Selection Merlot 2008 - Liquorland Top 100, (NZ), 2009
- Estate Selection Benchmark Block Two 'Omaka Slopes' Sauvignon Blanc 2008 - International Wine Challenge, 2009
- Estate Selection 'The Triangle' Merlot 2007 - Pure Silver - Air New Zealand Wine Awards, (NZ), 2008
- Estate Selection 'The Triangle" Merlot 2008 - Air New Zealand Wine Awards, New Zealand, 2009
- Estate Selection 'The Plains' Merlot Franc 2008 - The New Zealand International Wine Show, (NZ), 2009
- Estate Selection 'The Pacemaker' Cabernet Franc 2008 - The New Zealand International Wine Show, (NZ), 2009
- Exceptional Vintage Pourriture Noble 2008 - The New Zealand International Wine Show, (NZ), 2009
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