Wednesday 18 May 2011

More Hunter Valley Semillons from Tyrrell


At the stand of John E. Fells and Sons Ltd, Fine Wine Importers sinch 1858, we discovered two further examples of Tyrrells Hunter Valley Semillon to add to the Old Winery, Lost Block and flagship Vat 1: the very Australian sounding 'Johnno's Block' and Brookdale (which weighs in at a (for the Hunter Valley) whopping 12% Abv.

Dominic Small of this company explained that Tyrrells have many blocks over a wide area and tent to make separate wines from them which is great news for diversity. Our very first encounter with Hunter Valley Semillon had been Tyrrell's 'The Stephen' in a vintage of at least a decade previous to our tasting in a restaurant on the beach at Melbourne. Mr. Small offered to put a case on one of their containers for us if we wished and we may take him at his word. He stressed that normally he sells to agents or importers of course.

We tasted The Johnno which was rather refined and pure and the Brookdale which was predictably richer and more rounded. Nice to discover the gamut of tastes in this one appellation.

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