Organiser and Chair of the Mudgee Wine Show committee, Andrew Ewart said the objective of the exercise was to get winemakers together to review the vintage in terms of wines coming out of the district.

“The tasting comprised wines produced during the 2009 vintage. Some have been bottled, others have not. Some have been through malolactic fermentation, others have not and some reds have been on oak and others haven’t.

“It’s a chance to see vintage in the raw,” he said.

He said the Mudgee Wine Show no longer incorporates an unbottled class and the post-vintage tasting was a permanent replacement.

“We have tasted between 55 and 60 wines here today and the idea is to use it as a way to lift the quality of Mudgee wines.

“The whole region needs to progress by sharing ideas to improve quality but we will only achieve this if we get maximum participation.”

Burnbrae winemaker, Frank Newman said it was a good chance to draw comparisons and look after the strengths of individual wines.

Consultant from Vintager Winemaking Services, Robert Paul said the organisation should be congratulated for putting it on.

“The wines are varied but show the difficulties associated with a hot, dry season. Mudgee is regarded as a warm climate region.

“Shiraz shows a lack of full ripening because when the conditions are too hot and they don’t have enough water, they shut down and don’t get started again.

He said the Petit Verdot and Riesling were looking good and more importantly said the standard of winemaking was where it ought to be.

“Post vintage tastings have been successful in regions such as the Barossa and the King Valley and it is a good idea for Mudgee as winemakers don’t always get appropriate feedback on unbottled wines at the Wine Show,” he said.