Lemony yellow in the glass with hints of lime-green in the hue. A luscious combination of grapefruit, gooseberry and citrus perfume, there is a wonderful oatmeal presence with traces of creamed honey. Fresh and juicy in the mouth with the oak influence adding weight to the mid palate and a clean and fresh finish, rounding out with some citrus and jasmine. The acids in this wine are perfect, helping frame the fruit as well as provide excellent length. Subtle buttery characters as well as sherberty acids linger on the finish, making it a prime aging wine.
James Halliday: 92 (2009) Pale straw; fragrant lemon blossom aromas,then a crisp and lively palate with a mix of lemon and grass notes; modern style of Barossa Valley semillon that works very well.
James Halliday: 94 (2008) Sophisticated winemaking on a micro scale (175 dozen) runs through from start (early picking) to fermentation (25% new French oak) to the refined, crisp palate and finish. Tour de force.
From the Winery:
Hand picked fresh and juicy, crushed drained and only the lightest of pressings retained. The juice was then cold settled and racked for ferment. 25% of the juice went to a new French oak barrique with the balance going to stainless steel. After ferment was complete a period of lees contact with periodic stirring added textural depth prior to bottling. Colour: Pale straw with green hints. Aroma: Lemon, lime citrus, oatmeal with a trace of honey. Palate: Fresh and juicy in the mouth with the oak influence adding weight to the mid palate with clean acid finishSummary: Semillon remains the white variety most suited to the Barossa Valley and for my money Vine Vale produces the most interesting whites of the sub-region. Ancestor vines, have to be 125 year plus give us wonderful fruit year in year out. Subregion: Vine Vale Variety: 100% Semillon Alcohol / Vol: 11.3 Production: 128 cases
Don't Pay: $22.00
WBW Rating: 94/100
Closure: Stelvin
Region: Barossa Valley, SA
Winemaker: Wayne Ahrens
Drink now until: 2019
Alc/Vol: 12 %
