Winemakers Comments

Sem/Chard....? Yes, that’s not a misprint.
Our first two vintages of Vat 32 Semillon Chardonnay were so well received that this label has become a mainstay in our range. If you haven't come across this label 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 have now completed our program of marking and removing/replacing these 'rogue vines' with cuttings/grafts from the original/existing Semillon vines, but the Chardonnay for the first two vintages of Vat 32 came from going through the whole vineyard and hand-picked these marked vines.

The 2024 Chardonnay was sourced from an old vine vineyard in the Lovedale region of the Hunter, and was whole-bunch pressed and fermented 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 56% Semillon and 44% Chardonnay.

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.

Tasting Notes

A Semillon for all the Chardonnay lovers!!

Youthful pale lemon with notes of fresh melon, stone and citrus fruits alongside pastry and fresh raw cashews on the nose. It is seductive in its voluptuous texture from the Chardonnay. Then with a perfectly crisp acidity refreshing the generous flavours of ripe peach, Spanish melon and finger lime. There are hints of cashew and ginger marmalade adding another layer. Long and lingering with both varietals beautifully integrated.

Bottled   15th June 2024
Production   279 dozen 
Alcohol 13.0%