Hilltops winery Moppity Vineyards

Hilltops winery Moppity Vineyards has never been backwards when it comes to announcing its wine show successes and other critical acclaim.  But I have to admit its performance in the Great Australian Shiraz Challenge was amazing.  392 wines were entered in this year’s 20th Anniversary Challenge, retail prices for the wines going as high as $300 a bottle, and many over $100.  During this 20-year period, only seven wineries have had two wines in the top 10 (including Hardys, Grant Burge, Wirra Wirra and Kilikanoon), but this year Moppity had three wines in the top 10, all gold medal winners, two of the wines vying for the Trophy for Best Wine.  In the outcome, the 2013 Reserve (rrp $70) pushed the 2013 Eclipse (rrp $120) into second place.

Moppity’s show record with its five shiraz wines from the 2013 Hilltops vintage have put beyond doubt their quality.  That record is as follows:

2013 Eclipse Shiraz (rrp $120)

2 Trophies, 8 gold medals

2013 Reserve Shiraz (rrp $70)

1 Trophy, 3 gold medals

2013 Estate Shiraz (rrp $30)

3 gold medals

2013 Lock & Key Reserve Shiraz (rrp $25)

6 gold medals

2013 Lock & Key Shiraz (rrp $20)

3 gold medals (including 97 point gold and equal runner up to the eventual Jimmy Watson Trophy Winner (SC Pannell Syrah), Royal Melbourne Wine Show 2013)