Castle Rock Estate has recently been awarded two trophies at the 2023 Perth Royal Wine Awards
The 2022 Castle Rock Estate Pinot Noir was awarded the ‘Trophy for Best Pinot Noir’, and within the Special Trophy category, the 2023 Castle Rock Estate Riesling was presented with the ‘Trophy for Wines of Provenance Best Red or White Varietal’.
The 2023 Perth Royal Wine Awards is one of Australia’s longest running wine shows having been established in 1843, and attracting some of the country’s most respected wine judges. The 2023 judging was overseen by Chief Judge Courtney Treacher with Panel Chairs including Cath Oates, Paul Hotker, Sarah Crowe, Julian Langworthy and Steve Flamsteed.
“We are thrilled to receive these awards,” says Castle Rock Estate owner and winemaker Rob Diletti. “Riesling and Pinot Noir are definitely focus wines for us. They are varieties that excel in the Porongurup Region.
“The ‘Trophy for Wines of Provenance’ is a fabulous award as it considers more than a single vintage. We entered three estate grown wines from across 15 years, the 2023, 2018 and 2008 vintages. We make these wines to age well, so the award is a nod to that.
“Our Riesling consists of 100% free run juice, creating elegance and finesse due to the minimal phenolic pick-up from the skins during pressing. It is fermented cool in stainless steel tanks with minimal winemaking influence to highlight the fruit definition and quality attained in the vineyard.”
The 2022 Castle Rock Estate Pinot Noir won gold before moving on to win the Trophy. The competing wines included examples from Tasmania and South Australia.
The Pinot Noir was made from estate grown fruit sourced from vines aged between 8-37 years. It is hand and machine harvested with the winemaking comprising seven-day cold soak, whole bunch ferment and barrel fermentation. The wine was then filled into a combination of new and seasoned French barriques and then matured for ten months on medium lees (24% new oak, 19% whole bunch).
- Castle Rock Estate Pinot Noir 2022 $40
- Castle Rock Estate Riesling 2023 $36
For further information and images please contact:
- David Cumming at Define Wine Marketing & Communications on 0414 736 342 or david@definewine.com.au
- Rob Diletti, Winemaker at Castle Rock on 0447 531 035 or rob@castlerockestate.com.au
Castle Rock Estate is nestled on the eastern slopes of the Porongurup Mountain and is named after a prominent nearby granite landmark. The vineyard, which sits in Great Southern’s sub region Porongurup, has a cool and elevated northerly aspect, resulting in intensely flavoured wines, particularly Riesling, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir. The vineyard was established in 1983 by Angelo and Wendy Diletti and is now run by their son Rob. Their 200-tonne winery was constructed in 2000. In 2015 Rob Diletti was named Wine Companion Winemaker of the Year. Rob was a finalist in the 2019 Gourmet Traveller Wine Magazine Winemaker of the Year awards and a finalist in the 2022 Wine Companion ‘Best Value Winery’ Awards.