2010 Hay Shed Hill 'Block 1' Semillon Sauvignon Blanc
| Vintage: | 2010 |
| Growing Region: | Margaret River 100% |
| Grape Varieties: | Semillon 65% Sauvignon Blanc 35% |
The Hay Shed Hill ‘Block Series’ wines showcase the outstanding characteristics of individual blocks on the vineyard. Grapes specially selected as the best of the Hay Shed Hill vineyard.
This wine is made from some of the oldest Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc grapes in Margaret River. On a steep gravely slope these old dry grown vines produce a very small crop of bright and varietally expressive Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc with a depth of flavour and intensity rarely seen in these varieties.
Old Vines Modern Wines.
Vintage 2010
The 2010 vintage in Margaret River was in two distinct phases. Early in the season it was warm to hot and very dry. The higher than normal daytime temperatures ripened the whites; Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Verdelho and Semillon, earlier than normal. The fruit was scrupulously clean due to the lack of spring rain, making bright, clean and very fruit expressive wines.
While the height of summer was quite warm the season broke very quickly with temperatures dropping dramatically in late March, this proved to be beneficial as it allowed more time on the vine for the red varieties and prevented excessive sugar build up in the grapes which has moderated alcohol in the final wines.
Winemaking
Only the best ‘free run’ component of the juice was used in this wine which gives the finest and brightest fruit expression and the least amount of phenolic impact. The juice was fermented in French oak barrels, no new oak was used so as to ensure that oak flavours and aromas were not dominant characters in the wine. The wine was matured in barrel for 4 months before clarification and bottling.
Colour
The wine displays fresh green tinges to a very pale straw colour.
Nose
The bouquet is fresh and clean with classic grassy elements typical of these varieties in this region. The nose is more complex than most SSB blends with an underlying toasty nuance.
Palate
The palate is bright and fresh with vibrant citric, gooseberry and lychee like flavours, all at a level of intensity greater than expected. The oak is almost impossible to detect other than it adds a textural dimension to what is normally a simple fresh and lively wine style. The 2009 Block 1 SSB has an amazing palate extension with the flavour lingering to a clean ultra dry finish.
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