We had good spring rains but lower summer rainfall than we usually receive in McLaren Vale. As a result of this dry growing period, disease pressure was low (no mildews!) although we had a couple of heat spikes in late January and some hot days in February which resulted in reduced crops compared to 2018 (down by up to 30% depending on variety).  Whites were picked early in February and picking of the reds started at the beginning of March and was largely all over by the end of the month. Quality is terrific however, and we have great hopes for the reds from 2019 and judging by this (new) white wine, the whites are pretty smart too.

Made from one of the last blocks of Semillon in McLaren Vale, this wine pays homage to the early picked Hunter Valley styles, and is testament to Joch’s love of his old Semillon vines. Back in the day, Joch’s parents grew grapes commercially (they didn’t make any wine under their own label) and the Semillon used to go to Penfolds where winemaker Neville ‘Falky’ Falkenberg loved it. He made some trial bins which were in the running to make the Penfolds ‘White Grange’ Yattarna but in the end, Chardonnay prevailed. So here we are some 20 years down the track making our own single vineyard (and unoaked, in the Hunter tradition) Semillon. Grapes are picked early and pressed off skins and fermented in stainless steel, and bottled early. No time in oak for this wine.