Highlighting the Top Wines from the 2024 London Wine Competition Chris Lehoux, April 12, 2024 Cat Among the Pigeons Fat Cat Tawny was selected as the top wine in the 2024 London Wine Composition An Australian wine was deemed the world’s best at the 7th edition of the 2024 London Wine Competition (LWC). Several of Great Britain’s uppermost Masters of Wine, Master Sommeliers, and wine purchasers convened on March 18-19 in London’s Marylebone district. The judging teams comprised five Master Sommeliers and nine Masters of Wine. David Round, MW, lauded the LWC as: Uniquely positioned as being business-oriented and the fact that it attracts a lot of Masters of Wine and Master Sommeliers gives it the highest overall standard of any competition when it comes to the quality of judges. Beans Boughton, MW, that the organization was “seamless,” and that “Moldova was the best region he tasted” at the 2024 competition. Approximately 2000 wine brands vied for medals in this year’s competition. The top five countries submitting entries were Australia, Italy, Portugal, Spain, and France. The entries, however, spanned the globe, from Moldova to Mexico. The top five varietals were Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Merlot. According to Sid Patel, the founder and organizer of the London Wine Competition: The judges not only applauded the quality of this year’s entrants, but also felt that the criteria used to judge the competition, where the wines are assessed on their packaging, design and commercial viability, as well as taste, give the awards more credibility and gravitas. 2024 London Wine Competition Winners: The Wine of the Year is Cat Among the Pigeons Fat Cat Tawny. The wine scored 98/100 points to take top honors. Australian Tawny Ports, also known simply as “Tawnies,” are fortified wines produced in Australia using similar methods to those used for Portuguese Tawny Ports. However, there are some key differences between the two styles. Australian Tawny Ports are primarily composed of a fusion of red grapes such as Shiraz, Grenache, and Mourvèdre. However, Portuguese Tawny Ports come from native Portuguese grape varieties like Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, and Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo). Some Australian Port producers also make use of the Portuguese varietals. Generally, the climate in Australia is warmer and arid compared to the Douro Valley in Portugal, where Portuguese Tawny Ports are made. This variation in climate means Australian grapes purposed for Tawny Port production ripen more and have a higher sugar content. This ripeness and flavor profile difference in the grapes used results in wines with remarkably different characteristics. Despite the fact that both Australian and Portuguese Tawny Ports mature in oak barrels, the maturation conditions in Australian wineries are typically drier and hotter with notable daily temperature changes compared to maturation in Portugal. In addition, Australian Tawny Ports are often aged using what’s known as a “solera” system. This entails blending younger wines with older wines over time to maintain a consistent flavor profile. Portuguese Tawny Ports can also be aged using a solera system, but it’s more common for them to mature in barrels without mixing. Australian Tawny Ports are globally admired for their profound, caramel-like character, exuding rich undertones of toffee, dried fruits, matured oak, and nuts. These full-bodied wines exhibit a viscous and syrupy consistency, contributing to their overall robust taste. Portuguese Tawny Ports, contrastingly, boast a heightened flavor of nuts in combination with undertones of dried fruits, rare spices, topped off with a hint of cocoa. The tantalizing Cat Amongst the Pigeons Fat Cat Tawny is crafted from a medley of authentic Portuguese grape varieties, featuring the likes of Touriga Nacional, Tinta Barroca, and Tinta Roriz, meticulously sourced from the finest vineyards of southern Australia. Our Tawny Pine undergoes a meticulous aging process in oak casks, adhering to the traditional solera system. This entails the blending of younger wines with the more matured ones over extended periods. The result is a wine that oozes complexity and intense flavors. The distinct flavor profile that results is abundantly rich in ripe fruit flavors, promising the delights of dark berries and raisins, delicately layered with the richness of caramel, toffee, and roasted nuts. The wine’s luxurious, velvety texture is complemented by a protracted, smooth finish. Its attributes make it a delightful standalone option or an exquisite pairing with desserts like a luxurious slice of chocolate cake or exquisite blue cheese. Judging the 2024 London Wine Competition The second ranked wine was also a Port-style wine: Mt Pleasant Wine Tawny Port Vol XXIII, a non-vintage wine from the United States, 97/100 points. The top ranked (non-fortified) red wine was Landmark 2022 Grand Detour Pinot Noir, 96/100 points. Landmark Vineyards is a California winery located in the Sonoma Valley. Established in 1974, Landmark is known for producing high-quality, small-lot wines, with a focus on Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The winery acquires grapes from vineyards spread across the wine regions of California, including places like Sonoma Coast, Russian River Valley, and Santa Lucia Highlands. The wines of Landmark are known for their high quality, embodying elegance, balance, and complexity. The winery offers a variety of wines, comprising single-vineyard picks and blends, each delivering the unique terroir of the Californian wine regions. Some top red wines are O’Leary Walker Wines, 2022 Armagh Shiraz Polish Hill River from Australia, Lost Wolf Wine Company, Lost Wolf 2019 Grenache again from Australia, SCEV Domaine du Chateau de Meursault, 2022 Corton Grand Cru Les Marechaudes from France, and Justin Vineyards & Winery, Justin 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon from the US, earning 95/100 points. The top rank in white wines was held by Chardonnay. The top ranker among white wines is Singlefile Wines, Singlefile ‘The Vivienne’ Denmark Chardonnay from Australia, which achieved a score of 96/100 points. Other top ranked white wines are Tasman Vintners, Sandy Bay Estate Chardonnay (Australia) and Trinity Hill Wines, Trinity Hill Single Vineyard 125 Gimblett Chardonnay (New Zealand). A complete list of the 120 top ranked wines from the 2024 London Wine Competition is available at the competition’s website. Although the LWC draws entrants from all over the world, it has an exceptional array of outstanding Australian wines. If your palate leans towards Australian wines, there are plenty of new and interesting wines to explore among the LWC Gold Medalists. Cheers About the Author: Chris Lehoux Meet Chris Lehoux, an experienced wine connoisseur and dedicated blogger with a deep passion for all things wine-related. With years of expertise in the industry, Chris shares insightful wine reviews, valuable wine tasting tips, expert pairing advice, and captivating tales of vineyard visits. Join Chris on a journey through the world of wine, where every sip is an adventure waiting to be savored! Wine