The Auswine Forum

Annual wine trip week done and dusted. Same week every year - different region.
Accom : Getaway Cottages (Bloome COttage) - truckload of cook your own breakfast included in rate. Fab !
1. Next year trip : Grampians, Coonawarra, Wrattanbully (bad red vintage in Hunter 2008 - imported a lot of grapes and made into product in the HUNTER !, plus some Hunter winemakers have vineyards there even still)
2. Mudgee victims : Mongrel, Moothie Estate, Small Winemakers Centre (Findlay and of note), Peiter Van Gent (great lass by the name of Lara saw us through the tasting), Mansfield (SPanish varietals smorgasboard), Di Lusso (sorry - overpriced for me), Lowes, Oatley (pass, corruption of ye olde Montrose label - such a shame), Huntington Estate - still great and was reported vintaged releases available but not the case, Robert Stein, Farmer's Daughter, Burnbrae.
WINNER - Burnbrae reds (any), RUNNER UP - Robert Stein reds, HONOURABLE MENTION - Pieter Van Gent
3. Mudgee alternatives : Mudgee Brewing company (porter and stout or "Mudgee Mud" sampled profusely. Porter won and stout a tad disappointing), Mudgee other alternative - new DISTILLERY (Baker WIlliams) open for business - 4 products from pilot runs currently available : coffee liquor and butterscotch liquor as well as verjuice liquour (all at 19%), wheat vodka awaiting bottling. Reportedly moving into boutique scotch next, then brandy
4. Mudgee Eats :
(a) Lunch : Blackheath Pub (on way from Sydney) - fabulous pies !, Di Lusso (antipasto platter), Elton's
(b) Dinner : Orient Hotel (Ori's) after Sunday race day, Wineglass at the Cobb and Court, My Thai (takeaway),

Sounds like not much interest in this area/region ? Most winemakers don't pay fees for marketing and most not available in bottle shops so cellar door sales predominate. Grossly overlooked in my opinion. Climate change scientists suggest Hunter dead in 10-20 years and Mudgee will take over as premier region in the greater Sydney domain.

My cousin owns "The Mudgee Homestead" up on the hill just out of town. A stunning place and Karen and her husband are top hosts.

We have been up there a few times and even though we have enjoyed the trip, the wines never really stood out. Loads of potential but never quite getting there for my poor palate.

I read an article towards the end of last year, written after the Mudgee Wine Show, which struck a nerve with me. The list of awards, or lack there of, and the comments by the show judges re poor wine making technique etc, made for depressing reading. I'll try and dig up the article.

Cheers, Travis.

And here it is. Read the judge's remarks at the start of each section.

http://www.mudgeewine.com.au/docs/2012_ ... esults.pdf

Cheers, Travis.