Gundog Estate The Chase Hunter Valley Semillon 2023

This take no time, maybe a nano-second, to reveal its varietal personality. That scent: green apple, chamomile, lime, lime zest. It’s lean, clean and pure. That palate: dusty, lime zest spark, gooseberry, lemongrass with a touch of saline-rockpool. It’s a force-full presence, vibrant and tight in brisk acidity. This is so Hunter Valley Semillon. The fact that it is picked early with 11% alc. informs the drinker that this Semillon is in the classic Hunter style, one that is intended for some serious bottle ageing. And while it might have age on its mind, it does deliver right now. Sourced from old vines according to the label – just how old is not said – it does bring that heady mix of purity of quality fruit with no oak injection, combined with a fine-ness of Semillon expression that is quite unique to the Hunter and Australia.