2023 Elevage Semillon
Winemaker's Comments
Semillon is capable of producing a diverse range of wine styles, from bone-dry classics through to richly sweet dessert wine, all the while maintaining its varietal character and a ‘sense of place’. A ‘dessert style’ Hunter Valley Semillon, the elevated sweetness has been achieved using technology (reverse osmosis) rather than botrytis (noble rot), where we actually extract some of the water component from the juice thereby increasing the natural sweetness to a level needed for this style of wine prior to fermentation. The juice then undergoes a relatively long, cool fermentation and we stop fermentation when the alcohol level has reached approximately 10 - 11%, leaving around 7 Beaumé of residual sweetness in the wine. Unlike the sweet wines of some other regions, we don’t use oak to mature the wine and it is bottled early to maintain its freshness.
A wine to savour as a youngster, however it will develop extra depth and complexity with some time in the cellar.
Presented in 500mL bottles
Tasting Notes
Medium lemon straw in colour, this will deepen with time in the cellar. Whilst light in alcohol yet full in textural viscosity, this wine is rich and voluptuous, packed with ripe tropical fruits, lemon sherbet, and candied pineapple notes. The finish is long and luscious yet quite refreshing on the finish with its elevated citrus-like acidity providing a beautifully balanced wine.
Not just a wine to be enjoyed at the end of the meal with a delicious dessert, it is equally suited as an aperitif and is also a perfect match with blue cheese.