Parched Crow Early Dawn Semillon 2025
- 93
- $30
- Drink by: 2025-2035
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Hunter Valley Semillon from the Early Dawn Vineyard at Cessnock, which was planted by Henry Joseph Bouffier back in 1859. He seems to be a man forgotten by Australian wine history. The alcohol is a tick under 10½%, as we often see with good Hunter Semillon, making it an ideal style for a glass or two over lunch. Pale lemon in colour, the wine offers lifted aromatics with citrus and pears, spices and florals. There is good focus and decent length here, with a fine line of acidity. Good energy, it promises to age as we would expect from fine Hunter Semillon. Enjoy this over the next six to ten years.
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.
