DWWA 2011: Strong display from Fortifieds

Sales of fortified wines may be dwindling, but this year's DWWA results show they offer high quality across the board.

In the Port and Madeira category, more than nine out of ten wines won a medal.

The Sherry section was marginally less consistent but still ranked third in the most successful wine region in terms of medals won with 84.5% of all sherries winning a medal.

Inevitably, top vintage ports won golds but there was also value to be had. The best value gold medal winner went to Portugal but it’s not from the Douro. Bacalhoa’s Moscatel de Setubal 2004, priced £8.99-£9.99 also takes the Portuguese fortified title under £10, which is sure to have raised some eyebrows in Vila Nova de Gaia.

Other well-priced fortifieds that won top gongs include Cockburn’s LBV 2006, retailing between £9.50 and £14.99 as well as Campbell’s Rutherglen Muscat NV, priced £9.95-£11.99.

In another unexpected twist at the Decanter World Wine Awards, English wines proved to be the second most consistent of all wine-producing countries with 88.9% of all entries winning a medal.

However, only one entry was deemed gold-medal worthy, leaving Ridgeview’s Grosvenor Chardonnay 2007 to walk away with the UK Sparkling over £10 trophy.

Written by decanter.com staff