“Thanks to perfect ripening conditions in the Hunter Valley, winemakers are declaring this a year to remember.

The 2014 Hunter Valley vintage is being hailed as a great one, with perfect ripening conditions in a region that has notoriously wet vintages. Leading winemakers, including Bruce Tyrrell of Tyrrell’s Wines and Iain Riggs of Brokenwood, have given the 2014 vintage a big rap. Tyrrell has compared it to the great 1965 vintage (at least for red wines) and Riggs says he rated the vintage 11 out of 10.

The Hunter Valley Wine & Tourism Association quoted a tweet during vintage from Hunter Valley Wine Show chairman of judges Jim Chatto: ‘‘1937, 1954, 1965, 2014. If you’re lucky, you get one, maybe two of these vintages in your career. Make it count.’’ Chatto is also McWilliam’s Wines’ chief winemaker.”