On 7 November 2019, Decanter and Vinitaly teamed up at Bellavita Expo, London – the leading trade event dedicated to the promotion of Italian food and beverage – to host a Mediterranean-focused masterclass highlighting DWWA 2019 Platinum medal winners from Italy, Spain, France, Greece and Slovenia.
Dirceu Vianna Junior MW discusses the judging process at Decanter World Wine Awards and leads the tasting of Platinum medal winners from the 2019 competition
The award-winning line-up was presented by Dirceu Vianna Junior MW, the first South American male to obtain the title of Master of Wine and a DWWA judge since 2009. Each wine in the line-up was expertly studied and described, from vinification methods to typicity and flavour profiles, and well received by the trade members in attendance.
Junior closed the sold-out masterclass with a nod to the Decanter World Wine Awards judging process, commenting:
I’m proud to be part of the Decanter World Wine Awards for the past 10 years. The judges there are focusing only on one area so they know the area inside out. When I taste the wines from Chile, I’m tasting Chile inside out and I share my knowledge with the other judges and learn a lot from them. If you taste the wines from Italy, and then you taste the wines from Chile, then taste the wines from Australia, it’s quite difficult to have people who are good enough to do this in a short period of time. I think lean focus is Decanter World Wine Award’s strength.
On the topic of medals he added:
Remember what these medals signify to me. I think it will help if you go to a shop, supermarket or look at a catalog. If you see a Silver, use it in a masterclass. If it’s Gold, take it home and share with your friends. The judges are great, so when I see a Decanter sticker it means I have full confidence in the wine.
Masterclass host and DWWA judge, Dirceu Vianna Junior MW
DWWA 2019 Platinum medal line-up
Pere Ventura, Vintage Gran Reserva Brut, Cava, Spain 2014
Platinum, 97 points
Elegant savoury nose with nuances of toasty oak with rich apple and marmite aromas. In the mouth is sharp, energetic and ethereal, with real depth a finely textured bubbles with a delicate texture.
Ktima Gerovassiliou, Epanomi, Macedonia, Greece 2018
Platinum, 97 points
Profound, with purity and elegance. Aromatics of grass and herbs, with ripe white stone fruit. Beautiful core of Meyer lemon, white pepper and dried oregano, and a long finish. Excellent.
Siddùra, Bèru, Vermentino di Gallura Superiore, Sardinia, Italy 2016
Platinum, 97 points
Platinum, 97 points
Rich, elegant aromas of candied orange, apricot and dried fruits. Sweet spice and vanilla flavours on the palate, with lovely minerality and a long, ripe finish. Shows excellent complexity.
Tenuta Casteani, Marujo Syrah, Maremma Toscana, Tuscany, Italy 2016
Platinum, 97 points
This is superlatively made and effortlessly drinkable. Cassis, plum, Mediterranean herbs, green peppercorn and black spice weave through each other framed by velvety, but tenacious tannins. Silky, seamless and polished. All up, a very impressive Tuscan Syrah, the balance and length nigh-on perfect.
Merum Priorati, El Cel, Priorat, Spain 2016
Platinum, 97 points
Superb complexity on the nose with concentrated balckberries framed by elegant nose of oriental spices, black pepper and toasty oak. A unique wine, combining power and finesse, with a lingering open finish and tightly knitted tannins supported by a juicy core of fruit concentration.
Domaine De Baronarques, Limoux, Languedoc-Roussillon, France 2016
Platinum, 97 points
A seamless on-song Bordeaux style blend, yet with much more ripeness and juicy fruit gum character. Monumental depth of character which is enhanced by well-managed oak that is adroitly integrated with the silky tannins to give a fresh, elegant finish. Very complete, nuanced, long and beautifully balanced. Pitch-perfect now but still lots of life ahead. Excellent release.
Donnafugata, Ben Ryé, Passito di Pantelleria, Sicily, Italy 2016
Platinum, 98 points
More of an experience than merely a wine! An exotic blast of ripe stone fruit and sweet spice unfold to reveal honeyed layers of mandarin zest and sumptuous apricot. Creamy and luxurious with a superb acidity and captivating finish.
The full line-up and tasting order
See full DWWA 2019 results
