$35 Xanadu wine trumps the rest of Australia's best

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$35 Xanadu wine trumps the rest of Australia's best

By David Prestipino

Australia's largest and most prestigious annual cabernet taste-off was certainly different this year, but the end result remained the same.

A West Australian wine again came up trumps in 2020's world-first virtual wine show.

Xanadu winemakers Brendan Carr and Glenn Goodall have pumped out some great drops from the winery of late.

Xanadu winemakers Brendan Carr and Glenn Goodall have pumped out some great drops from the winery of late.

The extraordinary 2018 Xanadu Black Label 'Estate' Cabernet Sauvignon won the James Halliday Australia Cabernet Challenge Trophy on Thursday night, its 97-point rating higher than the other 363 entries from 29 wine regions across Australia.

The gong continued an unprecedented run from Xanadu winemakers Glenn Goodall and Brendan Carr, whose wines have dominated the country's seven capital city wine shows of late.

The Margaret River winery has won 14 of 49 best cabernet of show trophies at the capital city shows since 2013, against much bigger names who brought more expensive drops to challenge.

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In 2019, Xanadu cabernets won five of the seven best cabernet of show awards and also the 2018 Jimmy Watson Trophy with the 2016 vintage of the same wine that won on Thursday.

Xanadu is one of 130 wineries in Margaret River, which crushes just two per cent of Australia's total cabernet production, but is responsible for about 20 per cent of premium sales of the elegant variety.

Senior winemaker Goodall said winning the Halliday Challenge was definitely the highlight of 2020. "It's a huge achievement for everyone involved at Xanadu, especially our growers," he said.

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"Cabernet sauvignon loves Margaret River, and there would have been some strong wines in the mix given 2018 was such an amazing vintage here.

"No doubt, in years to come, everyone’s 2018 cabernets will still be the yardstick by which such exceptional vintages are remembered."

Five regional winners were also named at the live-stream presentation that followed three days of intensive, virtual judging in Coonawarra and Margaret River hubs.

HALLIDAY BEST OF REGION WINNERS:

Adelaide Hills Best of Region
Wines by Geoff Hardy
2018 K1 By Geoff Hardy 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon – 95 points

Barossa Valley Best of Region
Casella Family Brands
2018 Peter Lehmann Wines Masters Mentor Cabernet Sauvignon – 95 points

Coonawarra Best of Region
Brand's Laira of Coonawarra
2018 Brand's Laira 1968 Vines Cabernet Sauvignon – 96 points

Margaret River Best of Region
Xanadu Wines
2018 Xanadu Cabernet Sauvignon – 97 points

Yarra Valley Best of Region
Boat O'Craigo Wines
2018 Boat O'Craigo Braveheart Cabernet Sauvignon – 96 points

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