Hunter Valley Semillon is one of Australia’s great contributions to the wine world. Picked early when acid levels are still high, light in alcohol and with the need to be aged in bottle, it counters the Australian stereotype of high alcohol fruit bombs.
Until the wide adoption of the screw cap as the preferred closure in the 1990’s, ageing premium Hunter Valley Semillon was somewhat of a lottery. Perfect mature bottles of Tyrell’s Vat 1 and McWilliams Mount Pleasant Lovedale could be truly ethereal, yet bottle variation was considerable given the vagaries of cork.
It was with some degree of trepidation that this 1997 Vat 1 Semillon was broached over the festive period. The fill level suggested a touch of ullage, not a brilliant sign. Open pouring, the wine appeared relatively youthful, just a twist of gold to confirm that it is 17 years post-vintage.
Aromatically and in the mouth, it comes over as a wine approaching maturity, but retaining brilliant freshness, vibrancy and vitality. This is a near perfect bottle of an Australian icon, with many years in the tank (at least a decade, cork permitting). What a pleasure to enjoy such a distinctive and iconic wine in pristine condition. One wonders how long we’ll have to wait for bottles sealed under screw cap to reach full maturity!
1997 TYRELL’S VAT 1 SEMILLON
Producer: Tyrell’s Wines
Variety: Semillon
Vintage: 1997
Region: Hunter Valley, New South Wales
Alcohol: 10.8%
Closure: Natural cork
Retail Price: N/a
Date tasted: 25 December 2014
Tasting Note:
Bright greenish yellow with golden glints. Relatively youthful in appearance. Delicate nose of lemon blossom, honey and candied citrus peel. Remarkably fresh, primary and vibrant for a 17 year old wine (especially one sealed under cork). Medium bodied, elegant, round on the palate; lemon pith/juice. Very pretty, delicate and extremely fine. Testimony to the quality of Hunter Valley Semillon.
Score: 18.5/20
Until the wide adoption of the screw cap as the preferred closure in the 1990’s, ageing premium Hunter Valley Semillon was somewhat of a lottery. Perfect mature bottles of Tyrell’s Vat 1 and McWilliams Mount Pleasant Lovedale could be truly ethereal, yet bottle variation was considerable given the vagaries of cork.
It was with some degree of trepidation that this 1997 Vat 1 Semillon was broached over the festive period. The fill level suggested a touch of ullage, not a brilliant sign. Open pouring, the wine appeared relatively youthful, just a twist of gold to confirm that it is 17 years post-vintage.
Aromatically and in the mouth, it comes over as a wine approaching maturity, but retaining brilliant freshness, vibrancy and vitality. This is a near perfect bottle of an Australian icon, with many years in the tank (at least a decade, cork permitting). What a pleasure to enjoy such a distinctive and iconic wine in pristine condition. One wonders how long we’ll have to wait for bottles sealed under screw cap to reach full maturity!
1997 TYRELL’S VAT 1 SEMILLONProducer: Tyrell’s Wines
Variety: Semillon
Vintage: 1997
Region: Hunter Valley, New South Wales
Alcohol: 10.8%
Closure: Natural cork
Retail Price: N/a
Date tasted: 25 December 2014
Tasting Note:
Bright greenish yellow with golden glints. Relatively youthful in appearance. Delicate nose of lemon blossom, honey and candied citrus peel. Remarkably fresh, primary and vibrant for a 17 year old wine (especially one sealed under cork). Medium bodied, elegant, round on the palate; lemon pith/juice. Very pretty, delicate and extremely fine. Testimony to the quality of Hunter Valley Semillon.
Score: 18.5/20
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