Vineyards in the Highlands have gained a saintly status with the latest award winning wine from Saint Derycke’s Wood of Joadja.

The recent Murrumbateman cool climate wine show had hundreds of entrants from across Australia.

The bountiful second season chardonnay of the young Saint Derycke’s Wood was tipped to be very good by resident winemaker Alex Massing.

“Even when it was in the tanks I knew that this chardonnay was going to be good,” Mr Massing said.

However, the results exceeded the already high expectations held at Saint Derycke’s Wood had.

“We up against quality producers, most notably McWilliams who have consistently produced outstanding over many years,” Mr Massing said.

With such strong competition, the cold climate chardonnay was set to heavily contested.

Out of a possible 60 points, the judges awarded the Saint Derycke’s Wood unwooded 2001 Chardonnay 54.5, one point away from a gold medal.

“That one point would not only have given us a gold medal it would have given us the trophy,” Mr Massing pointed out.

Silver still put Saint Derycke’s Wood in first place for chardonnays at this year’s Murrumbateman show.

Mr Massing went on to explain why cool climate Chardonnays were of such exceptional quality in 2001 for cool climate regions.

“There is no substitute for good weather.

“Although Summer was a little ordinary, Autumn was long, dry and warm which made our region particularly profitable for growing and producing good wine,” Mr Massing said.

The exceptionally high alcohol content (14.1 percent) for a cool climate chardonnay was a direct result of the excellent Autumn weather, according to Mr Massing.

“With the alcohol content being so high this particular chardonnay is much more full bodied than most cool climate chardonnays, yet it retains the citrus flavour rather then the fruit flavours of the warm climate examples,” Mr Massing said.

What was encouraging about the silver medal given the chardonnay was the judges comments about its future.

“The judges told us that seeing that this chardonnay was only bottled two weeks ago, along with the high alcohol content, this particular white wine is set to have a promising future.

“In fact the judges alluded that this chardonnay could get gold as it settles in a year or two,” Mr Massing said.