2011 Hay Shed Hill 'Block 1' Semillon Sauvignon Blanc
| Vintage: | 2011 |
| 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
The 2011 Margaret River vintage was incredibly different to other parts of the country, in which floods ravaged and conditions across middle and eastern Australia resulted in disease and lack of fruit ripeness. By comparison, the Margaret River vintage was extremely successful, with a very early and clean vintage and one of the driest and warmest summers on record. The unirrigated vines thrived in the hot conditions, with leaf quality and function maintained through to harvest. The result was excellent fruit across all varieties, with the white varities particularly bright and expressive.
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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