FOOD PAIRING

   
No Tyrrell’s Single Vat wine is more iconic than the Vat 1 Semillon. And with 2014 hailed the best vintage in 50 years, this one should be savoured! Established in 1858 by English immigrant Edward Tyrrell, Tyrrell’s Wines is one of Australia’s pre-eminent family owned wine companies with vineyards extending from their historic home on Broke Road in the Hunter Valley, New South Wales to their Heathcote vineyards in Victoria.

Tyrrell’s is home to some of Australia’s most awarded wines including this iconic Vat 1 Semillon, and in the last 40 years, Tyrrell’s has been awarded over 5,000 trophies and medals and been named “Winery of the Year” in James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion. The 2014 season provided perfect growing conditions in the Hunter Valley with lower crops and amazing depth of flavours, making many compare the 2014 wines to the legendary vintage of 1965. This really is a classic in the making, akin to the legendary vintages of 2005 and 2009. At the time of writing, the vintage has not yet been released in Australia, but when it does the list of awards will certainly be growing even longer.

The wine presents beautiful lime citrus aromas, while the palate is showing the typical powerful fruit core, which is balanced by the wine’s texture and soft acid profile. The length and power of fruit on the palate is what sets this Vat 1 apart from the other less rated vintages.

With age the wine will develop a golden colour, honeyed, straw aromas and a soft, immensely complex and flavoursome palate. After 5 years of cellaring before release, the wine is now ready to drink but due to the unique characteristics of the Hunter Semillon, it will develop with further cellaring for at least 10-15 years.

A great match with smoked trout or salmon, roast stuffed chicken, or lobster/crayfish with burnt butter.