2013 is turning out to be an outstanding vintage for Semillon in the Hunter Valley.  This wine comes from the Western edge of the Hunter Valley, the “Broke Fordwich” sub-region. I’ve already had my concerns over the naming of the Estate  so let’s all move on from that and just look at the wine inside the bottle. And a very impressive, well packaged bottle it is indeed.

Pale straw with green highlights. On the slightly rounder side of Hunter Semillon. Bet your favourite body part that it screams lemon and citrus, but yin to the yang, there’s: pea shoots, jasmine, egg shell and a wafting phantom of vanilla.

Lip smacking archetypical young Semillon acid cushioned by fluffy lemon sorbet and baked Pavlova shell. A lingering grassy green pea shoot gives herbaceous notes without being overtly vegetal. The flavour stopping a little short whilst the acid travels longer providing whispers of what might be to come with time.

Simplicity for labelling creates striking results

RRP: $26

ALC: 11%

Sample courtesy of Define Wine and Bilgavia Estate