Gundog Estate Hunter’s Semillon 2021
- 93
- $30
- Drink by: 2021 - 2027
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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?
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.
