2024 Sauvignon Blanc Semillon

94 points, Ray Jordan

The 2024 vintage marked a fast-paced season with grapes ripening rapidly in hot, dry conditions. Frequent irrigation was required to keep the canopies fresh and enable the vines to ripen the grapes to maturity without dehydration. Harvest timing in these conditions was critical to ensure physiological ripeness was achieved without a loss of natural acidity or fruit expression. All varieties reached full maturity earlier than we had ever experienced. However, good communication between the vineyard and the winery has resulted in wines that show beautiful flavours and aromas.

The 2024 blend is 70% sauvignon blanc and 30% semillon. The semillon was harvested on 29 January, the sauvignon blanc on 7 February.

Both varieties were crushed and immediately pressed into stainless-steel tanks, combining the free run and pressing portions of both varieties, which were both clarified using flotation.

The semillon component was kept cold until the sauvignon blanc juice was clarified, and the juice was then blended prior to inoculation with a selected yeast strain.

A seasoned French oak puncheon was utilised to ferment 5% of the wine to add complexity and weight. On completion of the ferments, the tank and puncheon volumes were blended together and left to sit on fine lees until the wine was filtered and bottled in July 2024.

Winemaker: Jonathan Mettam
Viticulturist: Tim Quinlan

Alc 12.2%
pH 3.22
TA 6.6g/L
Be°: Semillon 11.2° Sauvignon Blanc 12.2° (harvest)