Gundog Estate Hunter’s Semillon 2021

A really intriguing style of Hunter Semillon – I might be wrong with this but I gather it is named after a hunting dog called ‘Hunter’, which is really confusing. 

In many respects, the traditional Hunter (region, not canine) style of semillon, but it is one designed to be much more approachable in its youth than many. Winemaker Matt Burton wants the flavour and intensity that usually takes years to develop, to be available upfront, rather than for winelovers needing to lock their semillons away for decades. To achieve this, he pays careful attention to “fruit/vineyard selection”. This will still cellar well and improve, perhaps nothing quite like what one might see with the traditional semillons, but no reason why you wouldn’t drink it over the next few years. 

Lemon notes. Some tropical touches. A clean, slightly minerally background overlaid by lovely lemon méringue notes. Fresh summer aromas. Good fresh acidity, mouthfilling flavours with very good persistence and focus – delicious. Why on earth do people drink sauvignon blanc when they could drink this?