The Mudgee region has further secured its reputation as one of the best winemaking districts in the country after a record number of the area’s wines made the Taste.com.au Top 100 Wines.Eight local wines were on the list, published in last Tuesday’s edition of The Daily Telegraph, including two each from Logan Wines and Robert Stein Wines and one each from Bunnamagoo Estate, Louee Wines, Charnwood Estate and De Beaurepaire Wines.
The list celebrates “the finest wines Australia has to offer”, and includes a host of popular wine labels such as Grosset, Leo Buring, Brown Brothers and Penfolds.
Mudgee’s listed bottles were two of the top 11 Rieslings and top 11 Chardonnays, as well as a Sauvignon Blanc, a Shiraz and a blend, all from 2009-2011 vintages.
The listing came as a surprise to some smaller local wineries, with the teams at Bunnamagoo Estate and Rylstone’s De Beaurepaire Wines among those unaware of the accolades they’d received until the Mudgee Guardian contacted them on Friday.
“We were scrambling to get stock and photos of the bottle to send away to go in for it,” said De Beaurepaire manager Paul Brownsell.
“At the time they couldn’t guarantee us anything, so to hear that we’ve actually made it is just sensational – what an absolute delight.”
Bunnamagoo Estate administration manager Debbie Hughes said the 94 points awarded to its Mudgee Chardonnay was a particularly great honour.
“This is the first vintage that’s gone through our new winery, so being recognised like this for it is more special to us than anything,” she said.
Peter Logan of Logan Wines said the outstanding number of Mudgee region wines in the list proved his belief that the area’s quality of wine was the healthiest he has seen in his 15 years winemaking in the Central West.
“We have a good climate and great soil and a lot of good grapes with decent age in the ground, so there’s no reason why we shouldn’t be taking up that many places [on the list] every year,” he said.
Louee Wines’ David Lowe said the listing was a stunning result for a region that produces less than one per cent of Australia’s wine, adding that the diversity of Mudgee’s entries “makes a mockery” of the argument the region is known only for its bold reds.
“We are known for many things, and we are proving we’re becoming a must have for anyone who wants a shopping trolley full of wine,” he said.
Winemaker Jacob Stein, who made four of the eight wines on the list, said the region’s inclusion on a list he anticipated would be seen by more than one million wine enthusiasts would “definitely open up some doors” for trade and wholesale purchases in Sydney.
“We see a direct increase in cellar door visitation after these kind of articles – there’s definitely a correlation – so we expect more visitors as a result,” he said.
Charnwood Estate owner Greg Dowker said he was “quite chuffed” to receive a listing “up against the big guys”, but stressed that Mudgee region producers must push harder to continue getting their wines on wine lists in the city.
“There’s an awful lot of restaurants in NSW that have Victorian, Western Australian and South Australian Wines, but our wine is just as good as any other state’s,” he said.
“There’s got to be some way of getting that message across – this Top 100 list is a definite start.”
Mudgee Wine Grape Growers Association president Andrew Stein said the result was fantastic.
“It’s the first time ever that we’ve had so many wines in a top 100 list, so it definitely shows the continuing improvement and growing recognition of our wines,” he said.
Mudgee region wines in the Taste.com.au Top 100
Louee Wines 2010 Nullo Mountain Riesling (95 points)
Robert Stein Wines 2010 Reserve Riesling (94 points)
Logan Wines 2011 Orange Sauvignon Blanc (93 points)
Bunnamagoo Estate Mudgee Chardonnay (94 points)
Logan Wines 2009 Orange Chardonnay (91 points)
Robert Stein Wines Premium 2009 Shiraz Viognier (95 points)
De Beaurepaire Wines Captain Starlight Series 2009
Merlot Cabernet Petit Verdot (92 points)
Charnwood Estate 2009 Charlie’s Row Merlot (92 points)
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