Winemakers Comments

Yes, that’s not a misprint.
Our first vintage of Vat 32 Semillon Chardonnay was so well received that we've made another. If you haven't come across this blend before, here's some background to explain.

As you would expect with a vineyard that was planted way back in 1969, some gaps and missing vines have appeared over the years in the Braemore vineyard. At some stage over the last 50 years, these gaps were replanted with whatever vines were available at the time, and it’s now apparent that some of these gaps were filled in with Chardonnay cuttings.

We are in the process of marking and removing/replacing these ‘rogue’ vines, but during the 2023 vintage we went through the whole vineyard and hand-picked these marked vines separately and fermented them as a batch in four brand new French oak hogsheads. The wine spent four months in barrel before blending with a parcel of Semillon  from our Braemore vineyard. The blend is 68% Semillon and 32% Chardonnay.

Initially, the oak was quite punchy/overt in the blend, but with time prior to and post bottling, that oak has folded nicely into the wine and now provides just some beautiful background complexity.

For those of you who have loved and bought Tyrrell’s Vat 63 Chardonnay Semillon over the years, this wine is also for you. It might also give a little insight into my naming of the wine….. 

Only 270 dozen bottled.

"Andrew Thomas is in the process of removing rouge chardonnay vines from the Braemore vineyard. But in 2023, the chardonnay was harvested separately and fermented in four new French hogsheads. After four months of ageing, the wine was blended with a parcel of semillon from the Braemore vineyard. The result is a wine with fabulous purity, energy and intensity. It is immaculately made with a focused, flavoursome palate that is long, cleansing and gorgeous, and the high quality of the fruit shines through. The final blend is 68/32% semillon/chardonnay.
Utterly delicious"
95 Points - Toni Paterson MW winecompanion.com.au

Tasting Notes

A Semillon for the all the Chardonnay lovers!!
Its colour is bright pale lemon with an electric green fleck. The nose is pronounced with ripe peach, nectarine, and fresh citrus fruits alongside, hints of buttered baguette, vanilla bean, and nuts. The palate is flavoursome with a seductive and full silkiness and layers of ripe lemon, white peach, pear and golden apple, alongside hints of chamomile tea, French nougat and sourdough toast.
A flamboyant and unique blend Hunter Valley blend with refreshing yet soft acidity and an intricate and long finish.

Bottled   4th June 2023
Production   270 dozen 
Alcohol 12.5%