Thought this may be of interest. Last night the the Jimmy Watson Trophy for best 2003 red at the Royal Melbourne Wine Show went to Riverina winemakers Casella Estate (makers of Yellow Tail), for their Yellow Tail Premium 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon (the fruit sourced from Wrattonbully - near Coonawarra in South Australia).
Casella is the current success story of the Oz industry exporting nearly a million cases a month - much to the chagrin of Oz wine giants.
The JW Trophy is the one that everyone loves to hate (usually winemakers who'd love to win it) "how can you judge an unfinished wine, still in the wood?" is the typical whinge. Forgetting that winemakersand merchants from Australia to Bordeaux to Burgundy do just that every year. So coveted is this award that 979 reds in various classes were entered in hope of a win. Total number of wines judged at the show: 4615.
Cheers! Martin PS I helped out at the show as an honorary steward and score counter