Gundog Estate Wild Semillon 2022
- 93
- $40
- Drink by: 2022-2037
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There was a time when, if a Hunter winery was offering more than one Semillon, it was almost always to exhibit different vineyards. Matt and his team go further and they like to push the boundaries of what Semillon can do. Here, they leave a percentage of the wine on skins and use wild yeasts. The aim is to discover just what textural components they can get into the wine, while increasing the complexity, even in the early days. They also leave a hint of residual sweetness to help fill out the mouthfeel on the palate. If nothing else, all this opens the wine up to matching with a much greater array of dishes. In truth, the wine is so well balanced that the extra level of residual sweetness is almost imperceptible. The colour is an attractive pale straw. We have notes of dried herbs, spices, grapefruits and a very gentle touch of stonefruit. Bright acidity throughout too, which helps to balance that extra hint of sweetness. The texture is immensely appealing and wonderfully seductive with good persistence. This is a Semillon which can be enjoyed now but it will also handle a lengthy spell in the cellar.
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.
