The semillon smiled while the pinot pranced as some of the Hunter’s best noses gathered in Maitland for the best in show.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Dressed in obligatory white coats, the six judges of the 26th annual Hunter Valley Boutique Winemakers Show yesterday converged at Maitland Showground for the final hours of judging.
“In shows like this one you get to see a real, dynamic improvement on the range of varieties that are used and the styles of wines that are made,” judge chairman Keith Tulloch said.
“And that doesn’t discount for a second the classic style that is underpinning the history of the area and its great potential.”
A respected judge for 12 years, Mr Tulloch said Hunter Valley wines are always improving with semillon and shiraz clearly the region’s flagships.
“We’re lucky in that we’ve had fantastic vintage conditions in 2014 and very good weather in 2013,” Mr Tulloch said. “So we’ve had a great show looking at beautiful, strong-charactered wines that will be great quality and sell very well into the market place. And at the same time there are the vintages that are really coming into their own.”
So what makes a good judge?
“You have to have a highly developed sense of smell and taste, but a good judge has to be obsessive compulsive in terms of quality because we look for absolute brilliance,” Mr Tulloch said.
Winners of the wine show will be announced tomorrow night at the Hunter Valley Crowne Plaza.