These awards are recognition for many of the improved practices that we have implemented in our vineyard in recent years. The Vineyard, which is managed by youngest son Brian Martin, this has involved the introduction of biological farming, a low intervention approach, investment into mature vine management and the development of the vineyard from 30 to 120 acres.
The environmentally responsible vineyard management methods have enabled Clairault to practise Sustainable Farming for the Future and has led to the enhanced quality of fruit, this combined with the skills of our winemaker have enabled us to produce our award winning wines.
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2008 was an amazing year for Clairault Wines with a tally of 67 accolades, not including critic reviews.
Clairault was the most successful West Australian Brand at the 2008 International Wine Challenge in London with two trophies, two gold medals, three silver medals and four bronze medals. The trophies included: Best Australian Sauvignon Blanc for our 2007 Sauvignon Blanc and the Best West Australian Red Wine for our 2004 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon. At the 2008 Decanter World Wine awards, Clairault collected a total of 9 medals.
For the first time, Clairault received a 5 star overall rating in James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion 2009 Edition with high scores of 95/100 for the Clairault 2005 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon and 94/100 for the Clairault 2006 Estate Chardonnay, along with scores of 90 + on eight other wines. In The West Weekend Magazine (August 2008), Ray Jordan identified Clairault, along with 9 other Margaret River producers as being the pioneers of the region, and awarded our 2004 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 92/100.
Clairault Estate Chardonnay 2006 wins a Gold Medal at the Perth Royal Show in September, along with 5 other medals. Two Silver medals were won at the 2008 International Wine & Spirit Competition, one being a best in class. In October, Clairault’s 2007 Chardonnay and Clairault’s 2008 Sauvignon Blanc win Gold Medals at the 2008 Royal Adelaide Wine Show. At the Royal Melbourne Wine Show 2008, Clairault collected a Gold, 2 Silver and 2 Bronze medals.
In December, Will Shields proudly accepted the “Best Chardonnay Trophy” for the Clairault Estate 2007 Chardonnay at the Macquarie 2008 Margaret River Wine Show gala dinner. He had these comments, ”The judges remarked that the chardonnay classes were the most richly contested classes, so to come out with the trophy (for Best Chardonnay) in a region that is internationally renowned for producing some of the country’s most well known and recognised chardonnays is a tremendous achievement that we are very proud of.”
Also in December 2008, Clairault was honoured by being included in the Wine Business Magazine’s “50 stars of 2008” and Huon Hooke (Sydney Morning Herald) voted Clairault as the Most Improved Winery for 2008!
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In 2007, Clairault was awarded 46 assorted accolades, including 2 Trophies, 14 Silver medals and 25 Bronze medals. Clairault is standing out from the crowd by winning a TROPHY, a prestigious position in the TOP 100 and a Blue Gold award at the 2007 Sydney International Wine Competition. The Clairault Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2006 was the only Western Australian white wine to win a TROPHY at the 2007 Sydney International Wine Show! This is a tremendous achievement due to the fact that New Zealand wineries dominated the competition by taking home 9 of the 24 trophies.
In October, Clairault’s Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2007 won the Gold medal and the Trophy for the Best Dry White Blend at the 2007 Royal Adelaide Wine Show. Another Trophy in November with Clairault Wines being awarded the Trophy at the 2007 Qantas WA Wine Show for the most successful exhibitor under 250 tonne with the 11 medals awarded to our wines.
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In 2006, Clairault wines were awarded 58 assorted medals, wine critic write ups and media reviews. These include: the GOLD medal at the Sheraton Perth Wine Awards; Best in Class, two Silvers and two Bronze medals at the International Wine and Spirit Competition; a Seal of Approval and a Silver medal at the International Wine Challenge; the two Silver medals and the five Bronze medals at the Qantas Wine Show; the high rating of both Clairault Chardonnay's by The Wine Advocate; a Silver and a Bronze medal at The Royal Hobart Wine Show; Five Bronze medals at The Royal Melbourne Wine Show; Two Bronze medals at The Royal Perth Wine Show; the Silver and two Bronze medals from the Commonwealth Bank Margaret River Wine Show; numerous magazine and newspaper reviews and inclusion in many well known and respected wine critics annual books.
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In 2005, four Clairault wines made the Best Wines of 2005 by Winestate Magazine, and the Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2002 was awarded the Top 5 Cabernet Sauvignon’s of the Year in Australia and New Zealand. The Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2002 continued to shine in 2005, selected in the Top 100 Wines, at the Sydney International Wine Show. Following the Estate Cabernet Sauvignon's success, the Estate Cabernet Merlot 2001 was awarded the Decanter Award and 5 Stars by Decanter UK Magazine. Topping off a sensational year, Clairault Estate was honoured with a 4.5 Estate Rating by the James Halliday Wine Companion 2006.
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In 2004, the 1998 Clairault Reserve and 2001 Clairault Cabernet Sauvignon took GOLD at the International Wine Challenge in London, cementing Clairault as premium wine label in the world arena.
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In 2003, the 1998 Clairault Claddagh Reserve, 2000 Clairault Estate Cabernet Sauvignon and 2000 Clairault Estate Cabernet Merlot were nominated by Decanter UK Magazine in the Top Wines of the Year whilst the 2002 Clairault Shiraz was nominated for the sort after George Mackey Export Trophy.
