Proof that H&H was no one hit wonder when its first release took out the Hunter Wine Show last year. The secret is 1979 vines in the epic Drayton’s vineyard, infusing the wine with great concentration of granny smith apple, lime and peppermint. A line of taut acidity and linear persistence.
readArticles
The entry level First Creek Semillon, but you’d never pick it from the name or the wine. Beautifully fragrant bouquet of lemon blossom, kaffir lime, granny smith apple and pepper. Pure, cut palate of taut citrus, granny smith apple skin and finely textured minerality. Coiled-up energy. Patience.
readMonumental single vineyard semillon, piercingly pure, wonderfully linear and unrelentingly seamless – all at a bargain price. Lime juice, kaffir lime, anise, citrus-driven, with great fruit concentration, persistence and drive. Beautiful!
readThe original Lindemans Sunshine Vineyard is now in capable Scarborough hands but there certainly wasn’t too much sunshine in the 2011 rendition. It’s a cool, poised style, shot with pure kaffir lime, green capsicum and granny smith apples. Tight, upright, linear and defined by a precise acid profile.
readI never imagined off-dry Hunter sem would work, but the inimitable Andrew ‘Thommo’ Thomas changed that. The key? Wonderful poise, acid definition and fine minerality captured through early harvesting, underlining pretty, fine lime, lemon, red apple and pear fruit. Sweetness is merely supportive.
readO.C. is for Oaky Creek (not Orange County!), the original source of this more generously proportioned style. It’s now from superior, older vines in the Drayton’s vineyard, but why change the name of a good thing? Great concentration of lime, green and red apples; rounded but poised and precise.
readTower Estate rises to levels of perfume hitherto unknown in 2011 Hunter semillon: lilies, lime blossom, granny smith apples, guava and even musk. Tremendous fruit power, loaded with taut citrus and a backbone of fine minerality. Enjoy its primary innocence now, and it has the energy to go the distance.
readThe child of three vineyards, including some of the oldest vines in the district, infusing the wine with purity and excellent acid profile. Pure, cool lime and anise are the themes here, finishing with notes of green pepper. Exactingly assembled and great value.
readA mesmerising paradox: Moreish from day one and it can live for thirty years, as a recent vertical proved! The 2011 is clean and even, with precise lemon juice and cut grass lingering fine and long; a delicate flick of ripeness provides approachability on the finish. A confident vintage for this label.
readThere’s a rich appeal to the finish which makes this wine approachable right from the outset, without detracting from a pure expression of the granny smith apple, lime and anise typical of the vintage. Precise, linear, value.
read