Brokenwood ILR Reserve Semillon 2018

Always one of the superstars of Hunter Valley Semillon, the ILR is never released without at least a good five years ageing under its belt, at which time it is usually just beginning to show the glories that are ahead of it. The vineyard source varies from vintage to vintage, depending on which shines best – so if none measure up, then no ILR. This vintage is from the Oakey Creek vineyard, planted in 1982 and which the team purchased in 2021, although they have been sourcing fruit from it for several decades. This is a cracking ILR, indeed a cracking Hunter Sem, and, while it is drinking impressively now, has two decades of improvement ahead of it. A lemon/green hue. Early days, but already some appealing complexity. There are hints of lemon butter on toast, but surely much more to come. There are notes of figs and stone fruits and limes. Even that whiff of ginger. Immaculate balance, bright acidity, ideal focus and impressive length, this is a wine which has so much more to offer in the coming years. And whilst one can never confirm or deny such matters, it is entirely possible that, as I sit and write up all today’s tasting notes, there is a chilled glass of this very wine next to me. But, as they say, I couldn’t possibly confirm that.