Brokenwood ILR Reserve Semillon 2015

So perfectly toasty that if tasted blind you might swear you can smell beautiful toasty oak. Take a moment, delve in, and you realise it’s the lightly toasted brioche, glazed with leatherwood honey –  the signature of a gloriously aged Hunter semillon. That’s just the beginning; there’s coconut blossoms, flamed lime twist seconds before it garnishes a cocktail and rock pools in the cool of the morning. A silky, almost rich, nectar-like texture is a fascinating contrast to what you expect from just 11% alcohol and speaks of the flavour concentration of the fruit. The high natural acidity is so well integrated that it appears delicate, yet is bracing enough to freshen up rich dishes. Drink with pan-fried snapper, baby asparagus and citrus-kissed beurre blanc.