The judges awarded gold medals to four consecutive vintages of Mount Pleasant Lovedale Semillon – the 1995, 1996, 1997, and currently available 1998 ($44).

Mount Pleasant’s flagship red wine, Maurice O’Shea Shiraz received gold medals for its 1994 and soon-to-be-released 2000 vintage. The 2000 Maurice O’Shea Shiraz – sourced predominantly from 120-year-old vines grown on Mount Pleasant’s Old Hill Vineyard – will be available in store from October.

Mount Pleasant Chief Winemaker, Phil Ryan said he was always pleased to see a Mount Pleasant wine win gold medals across several vintages.

“In this case, I’m thrilled to see four consecutive vintages of Lovedale and two vintages of O’Shea Shiraz win gold medals at a single wine show. The results are testament to the incredible quality of these vineyards, and their ability to produce high-quality wines of great ageing potential,” Mr Ryan said.

“The four gold medal winning vintages of Mount Pleasant Lovedale Semillon reflected the entire spectrum of Hunter Valley semillon, from fresh, lime and mineral flavours to the more complex, rich citrus and tropical fruit characters. What is consistent throughout, and extraordinary for a single-vineyard wine, is the wine’s quality and show success.”

Mount Pleasant Lovedale Semillon is sourced exclusively from mature vines on the highly-prized Lovedale Vineyard, planted by legendary winemaker, the late Maurice O’Shea, in 1945. Today, the Lovedale Vineyard is widely regarded one of the country’s best vineyard sites and as the Hunter Valley’s best planting of Semillon.

In total, the 1995, 1996 1997 and 1998 vintages of Mount Pleasant Lovedale Semillon have been awarded nine trophies and 38 gold medals so far.

The just-released 1998 vintage has already secured seven gold medals – at the Hunter Valley (2003), Cowra (2003), Sydney (top gold, 2003), Rutherglen, Griffith and Cowra (2002), and Hobart (2001) wine shows.

Mr Ryan describes 1998 Mount Pleasant Lovedale Semillon as a terrific wine from an outstanding, early-ripening vintage.

“I have no doubt this wine will live up to the reputation of the 1998 vintage, and more. Right now there is a complex array of flavours, including lemon and lime primary fruit balanced by lovely toast and honey characters, the result of five years in bottle,” Mr Ryan said.