Château Tanunda 100 Year Old Vines Semillon 2023
- 93
- $80
- Drink by: 2024-2034
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It is far from uncommon to enjoy red wines from South Australia that come from vines more than a century in age. It is much less common to see whites of that great age. There are 2,700 bottles of this venerable old Semillon from the Barossa. The wine spent seven months in older French oak puncheons after barrel fermentation. A lovely gleaming pale lemon hue. The nose offers notes of lemon curd, vanilla and spices, hints of grapefruit pith. This is bright and intense with good energy. A supple texture, with a fine line of citrussy acidity. Decent length here and a clean finish. This is, unsurprisingly, very different to Hunter Semillons and still has another good ten years ahead.
Ken was born and bred in Brisbane, Queensland. He had a non-trendy, perfectly happy childhood, in a family convinced alcohol meant instant condemnation to Hades. But a break fishing on the Great Barrier Reef, and some good wine, started a serious obsession that eventually took over. It did not stop Ken being chastised later for drinking Pol champagne, disgusted he’d drink anything made by a Cambodian dictator. Now, Ken mostly writes on wine, champagne and spirits for various newspapers, magazines and books, but is perhaps best known for his work in The Courier Mail. He also has a little sideline writing on cigars, fishing, travel and food. When not writing, fly-fishing for trout in NZ or bonefish on the flats of Cuba, travelling or smoking cigars, he is no doubt following a variety of sporting teams – the occasionally glorious Queensland Reds rugby, the dysfunctional Washington Redskins, the dodgy Arsenal and especially revels in the world restored to its proper axis with the return of the Ashes to their rightful home.
