Food Drink

Bleasdale’s 2020 ‘The Iron Duke’ named Cabernet Sauvignon of the Year at 2023 Halliday Awards

With over 600 Cabernet Sauvignon wines tasted for the 2023 Halliday Wine Companion, Bleasdale’s 2020 The Iron Duke was among 11 wines shortlisted.

At the 2023 Halliday Awards, Bleasdale’s 2020 The Iron Duke wine was named as the best Cabernet Sauvignon of the Year.

With over 600 Cabernet Sauvignon wines tasted for the 2023 Halliday Wine Companion, Bleasdale’s 2020 The Iron Duke was among 11 wines shortlisted for the final judge-off, eventually being named the Varietal Winner.

The Iron Duke was also given a rating of 98 points out of 100, placing it in elite company. More than 8000 wines overall were tasted for this edition of the Companion, with just 2% of all wines given a score or 97 or higher.

This is Bleasdale’s top Cabernet Sauvignon wine; made only in exceptional years from a barrel selection off the best performing vineyards. The 2020 vintage was a notoriously challenging one, with yields down across the board in South Australia, however a cooler-than-average ripening period led to excellent fruit quality, particularly in Cabernet Sauvignon.

Bleasdale is no stranger to success at the Halliday Awards, with Senior Winemaker Paul Hotker named Halliday’s 2018 Winemaker of the Year, and also having been shortlisted for Best Value Winery of the Year on numerous occasions; including in the just-released 2023 Halliday Wine Companion.

This announcement continues an excellent run of form for Bleasdale on the national wine show circuit over recent years, having been awarded over 60 trophies in the past decade, including the Max Schubert Trophy in 2018 and the Jimmy Watson Trophy in 2019; two of the most coveted wine trophies in Australia.

Bleasdale General Manager Leigh Warren is proud of his team’s ability to continually produce award-winning wines.

“It is a testament to the entire team at Bleasdale when we receive results like this, from those in the vineyard through to the winemakers and cellar staff,” says Leigh.

“It is also great recognition for Langhorne Creek, which is often still an underrated region. The unique mesoclimate of Langhorne Creek gives our wines aromatic intensity, generous fruit and complex flavours while remaining fresh and vibrant.

“Staying relevant to the market is the key to success. People want to drink fresh wines with varietal character and that’s what Langhorne Creek and Bleasdale do so well. We make wines to suit the modern Australian lifestyle.”

Bleasdale’s 2020 The Iron Duke is available for purchase here for $79 a bottle.

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