Drinking In A Rich History
A new vintage from esteemed winery Tyrrell’s highlights its astute single vineyard touch.
Related articles
It’s hardly news that the Hunter Valley comes replete with premium ways to imbibe.
However, the Tyrrell’s Single Vineyard collection goes further, celebrating and realising the distinct character of the acclaimed NSW region.
Founded in 1858, Tyrrell’s remains family-owned to this day. Now led by fifth generation hands, the last three decades have seen a substantial shift in the way the winery operates. At its core, Tyrrell’s redefined the way it sourced its grapes, shifting from blended parcels across various vineyards to single vineyard wine, as debuted in 1983.
The move marked a heightened focus on the quality and individuality of the single vineyards of the Hunter Valley and its surrounds, with Tyrrell’s actively sourcing and collaborating with the best vineyard sites across the region.
The latest release to wear the elevated and superior label places Semillon firmly in the frame – a trio of newcomers set to age extremely well as they develop nuanced and deep flavour profiles.
“Semillon is a wine of two lives,” Bruce Tyrrell, fourth-generation winemaker and manager at Tyrrell’s, tells Robb Report. “The first where it is young, fresh and racy; then the second after about five years when bottle age takes over.
“[The 2017 Single Vineyard Semillons] are the result of an almost perfect vintage that has given us the full range of whites to release. The sheer pristine quality of the fruit was the star of the vintage.”
Informed by typography and touch, each Tyrrell’s Single Vineyard Semillon takes on a unique tone. Tyrrell notes that the “Semillons all have great length of fruit and soft acid; characters of talc and sunlight soap that you get in great years.”
And so, three single vineyard Semillons to pour into.
2017 Single Vineyard Stevens Semillon
The southernmost of Tyrrell’s Semillon vineyards, the Stevens vineyard features a combination of light sand and red clay soils. A cool fermentation process and early bottling contribute to the freshness of the 2017 Single Vineyard Stevens Semillon. Generous and round, the palate is laden with ripe citrus intensity, tempered by the distinct waxy quality characteristic of aged Semillons. While ready to drink now, it will continue to evolve over the next five to ten years.
2017 Single Vineyard HVD Semillon
This takes on a vibrant tone, with burst of citrus fruit typical of the Hunter Valley Distillery vineyard. With a fine-boned acidity and slightly chalky finish, its complexity is beginning to emerge.
2017 Single Vineyard Belford Semillon
The most robust and rich palette of the trio, the 2017 Single Vineyard Belford Semillon is created using grapes from the Belford plot – the northernmost of Tyrrell’s Semillon vineyards. Its full-bodied nature is balanced by a soft and clean acid profile that lingers on the tongue.
The 2017 Tyrrell’s Single Vineyard Semillons are now available; tyrrells.com.au/wines
Subscribe to the Newsletter
Recommended for you
7 Superyachts with Wine Cellars That Would Make Everyone in Napa Jealous
A large wine cellar aboard a yacht sounds counterintuitive, but these vessels have climate-controlled cabinets to handle the harsh ocean.
By Jaclyn Trop
November 14, 2023
How to Find Premium Tequila in a Saturated Market
The agave-based spirit may be shaking off its dive-bar reputation, but the industry is still awash with inferior brands. Here’s how to find the real deal—and why it matters.
By Jason O'
November 14, 2023