In

What has become an annual event, member and winemaker Bruce Tyrrell gave a record crowd of 65 a look at 5 reds and 5 whites from the Hunter, all gold medal winners at the last Hunter Wine Show. So we'll start by thanking Bruce very much for his generosity, and for the experience he gave us.

Actually, the generosity extended to a brace of 3 Tyrrell wines as aperitifs: 2012 Belford chardonnay, 2013 Brookdale semillon and 2013 HVD & The Hill pinot noir. All young and fresh in the lighter style, and well matched with some tasty entrees from Denis Redfern and Dennis Cooper in the kitchen: taramasalata topped with salmon roe on cucumber slices, pesto with a piece of sun-dried tomato on crackers and a chopped chicken and dried porcini mushroom mix in little tartlet cases.

The flight of 5 reds followed with a traditional main course of roast ribeye beef, Yorkshire pudding and a dark onion sauce with potato wedges roasted in duck fat and well done green beans to accompany. A few doneness difficulties with the individual puddings, but undoubtedly a meal fit for the wines, and a terrific feat from first time chef Denis Redfern to get 65 plates out in good condition and on time. The wines, all 2013, were: Briar Ridge Signature Release Stockhausen shiraz; Brokenwood Verona Vineyard shiraz; Tyrrells Vat 9 shiraz; First Creek shiraz; and De Iuliis LDR Vineyard shiraz touriga (the last with 15% touriga, a Portuguese grape which gave the wine a touch of sweetness). As you would expect, the quality was high and uniform, but popular preferences were for the Brokenwood and the Vat 9, both full wines with upfront fruit but enough tannins to give them balance and a long life ahead.

In a bold move from the Wine Master, the 5 medal-winning whites were served with cheese, a young, firm but mild and sweet Wensleydale cows' milk from North Yorkshire, whose characteristics were ideal for the delicate grassy acid of the Hunter semillons, all from 2014. They were: Audrey Wilkinson The Ridge; Briar Ridge Single Vineyard Dairy Hill; First Creek Reserve; Thomas Braemore; and Tyrrells Vat 1. The year produced in the main softer more forward wines, the Vat 1 in particular more approachable in infancy than usual. But it was difficult to pick an order, with each wine having its supporters. A plate of mixed red and green grapes went well with both cheese and wines.

The coffee was Harrar from Ethiopia and showed typical full mouth flavour with lingering acidity, a fitting conclusion to a memorable lunch.

Bruce spoke briefly to the wines, all of which were available for order on the day except for the Brokenwood. Everyone, including Bruce, hopes that this showcase of the Society's closest wine area will be with us next year, and thereafter.