Like a Version

Introducing the inaugural release of Thomas Wines “Like a Version” Braemore Semillon.

As we all know, Hunter Valley Semillon is one of the world's most unique wine styles. The 51-year-old Braemore vineyard, situated on the sandy alluvial flats along Hermitage Road, consistently produces Semillon featuring freshness, vibrancy, and remarkable longevity.

This wine is not like that at all.....

Yes, Thommo has borrowed the 'Like a Version' concept from Triple J radio's Friday morning segment, but here the idea is to present the ‘original’ and a ‘cover version’ from one of the Hunter Valley’s most iconic Semillon vineyards.

Last year Thommo invited Tassie winemaker and all-round top bloke Joe Holyman (Stoney Rise) to come up and have some fun with a small parcel of Braemore Semillon. The brief was simple - make a completely different style of wine to mine with the same grapes. Those of you who know Joe will appreciate his sense of mischief and no-nonsense approach to winemaking.

The fruit was foot trodden and left overnight before pressing the next day.

No SO2, no finings, no settling the juice. Spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts on full solids. No temperature control. The ferment was finished bone dry in just two days. Racked only twice over the next 8 months. A minuscule SO2 addition just prior to hand bottling in December 2019 without fining or filtration.
Only 1296 bottles produced.

Being a completely different style to what we would normally offer, Thommo wanted a completely different label. He commissioned Newtown artist Sindy Sinn to create the label artwork and we think he's absolutely nailed the concept behind the wine.

Thommo says "Whilst I personally find the wine a little “confronting”, that’s not the point. It’s the CONCEPT and the difference that I love, and I know there are many, many people out there who will dig this wine much more than I do…" 

2019 Like a Version Semillon and 2019 Braemore Semillon can be purchased online here or via Cellar Door. Thommo suggests chilling one of each to taste them side by side.