Very pale gold in colour, with a nose of soap and hay, overlain by a Riesling like petrol note. More soap, grass and hay on the palate and a slightly “oily” texture, which is the weird Riesling thing happening. Finishes quite broad, lacking highlights and cut. I’m a fan of this vineyard and have loved the 2011, so can only assume it struggles in these warmer low acid years, when Belford thrives 16.5.
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Still light-coloured and crisp, best not too cold. Great drop. Apologies for the note dumping here, but this really does have a lot going on. Passion fruit, lime, lemon, flint, hay, hint of papaya, kiwi fruit, bit of quince, unripened prickly pear and a nice helping of a rubbery/petroleum based mid-end palate. A pleaser. Still more to go in the tank too, woohoo!
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Lovely Hunter Semillon at this price point. Plenty of lime, grapefruit and pink lady apples on the palette, a touch of straw and honey coming through. Decent length and the soft acid profile makes this quite delicate and approachable. Drinking nicely now though patience will see this wine develop further complexity and those classic aged hunter Semillon characteristics over the years ahead.
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A very traditional Hunter nose of straw, lanolin and emerging honey. The fuller vintage is revealed by a broader acid profile. The palate persistently carries through the characteristics of a warmer vintage with straw, lime and honey. Probably another four years would develop those honey characteristics more commonly seen in the Belford semillons.
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Better on day 3 after kept in the fridge and tasted each day along the way. This gives a citrus tingle to both the nose and palate, backed up by crushed nettle, nougat and tiny hints of honey on the nose. The palate isn’t quite as complex, smooth, or delightful as other vintages, yet still a great value wine. 89-90 at the moment, but every confidence it will be 92-94 in a matter of time (years)
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{screwcap, 11.5%} Pale straw-yellow. Muted nose; a little white flower, not much else. Probably the wrong time to drink this. Palate has touches of green apple, a touch of lime, but a slight greasy/grassy character too. The vintage was perfect for reds, but seems to have left this a bit deficient in the acid department. Although it doesn't exactly sparkle on the palate, there's a beguiling hint-of-riesling twist to the palate flavours, and despite being only light-bodied, it's surprisingly persistent (and dry too, of course). Will doubtless develop better, but Stevens I always think it's better to err on the young side when drinking Stevens. This was poor timing on my part above all else.
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Hunter Valley - 6 Cellar Doors (Hunter Valley): {screwcap, 11.5%, A$23} Grassy, sweet apple and lemon fruit. Dry palate, touch of mineral-like texture along with the grassy flavours. Light-bodied, with crunchy medium acid. Short/medium finish. Good over the medium term.
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4/2/2024 - Geoff7777 wrote:
Very pale gold in colour, with a nose of soap and hay, overlain by a Riesling like petrol note. More soap, grass and hay on the palate and a slightly “oily” texture, which is the weird Riesling thing happening. Finishes quite broad, lacking highlights and cut. I’m a fan of this vineyard and have loved the 2011, so can only assume it struggles in these warmer low acid years, when Belford thrives 16.5.
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1/31/2023 - smenzies wrote: 94 Points
It has developed beautifully. Not sure it will get better but plenty of acid to last 5+ years
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9/4/2021 - smenzies wrote: 90 Points
A little light on .. suggest giving it a couple of years to develop more intense tertiary characters
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8/23/2021 - AusWineJuan Likes this wine: 91 Points
Still light-coloured and crisp, best not too cold. Great drop. Apologies for the note dumping here, but this really does have a lot going on. Passion fruit, lime, lemon, flint, hay, hint of papaya, kiwi fruit, bit of quince, unripened prickly pear and a nice helping of a rubbery/petroleum based mid-end palate. A pleaser. Still more to go in the tank too, woohoo!
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5/22/2021 - TimBag Likes this wine: 91 Points
Lovely Hunter Semillon at this price point. Plenty of lime, grapefruit and pink lady apples on the palette, a touch of straw and honey coming through.
Decent length and the soft acid profile makes this quite delicate and approachable. Drinking nicely now though patience will see this wine develop further complexity and those classic aged hunter Semillon characteristics over the years ahead.
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12/29/2020 - jimfree Likes this wine: 91 Points
Still yet to fully mature into a classic aged Hunter Semillon but has all the hallmarks. Wait for another 3-5 years
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9/22/2020 - cogo44 Likes this wine: 92 Points
A very traditional Hunter nose of straw, lanolin and emerging honey. The fuller vintage is revealed by a broader acid profile. The palate persistently carries through the characteristics of a warmer vintage with straw, lime and honey. Probably another four years would develop those honey characteristics more commonly seen in the Belford semillons.
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11/30/2019 - vinscent Likes this wine: 89 Points
Better on day 3 after kept in the fridge and tasted each day along the way.
This gives a citrus tingle to both the nose and palate, backed up by crushed nettle, nougat and tiny hints of honey on the nose.
The palate isn’t quite as complex, smooth, or delightful as other vintages, yet still a great value wine.
89-90 at the moment, but every confidence it will be 92-94 in a matter of time (years)
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4/17/2019 - JerM wrote:
The Great 2019 Easter Marathon!; 4/17/2019-4/26/2019 (Sydney): White peach, struck flint. Fresh, hessian. Crisp acidity, white citrus pith.
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3/29/2017 - graemeg wrote:
{screwcap, 11.5%} Pale straw-yellow. Muted nose; a little white flower, not much else. Probably the wrong time to drink this. Palate has touches of green apple, a touch of lime, but a slight greasy/grassy character too. The vintage was perfect for reds, but seems to have left this a bit deficient in the acid department. Although it doesn't exactly sparkle on the palate, there's a beguiling hint-of-riesling twist to the palate flavours, and despite being only light-bodied, it's surprisingly persistent (and dry too, of course). Will doubtless develop better, but Stevens I always think it's better to err on the young side when drinking Stevens. This was poor timing on my part above all else.
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5/31/2015 - CamWheeler wrote: 88 Points
Hunter Valley Roadtrip 2015: Peach, spice and lemon. Younger drinking style with roundness to the fruit on the palate and moderate acidity.
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1/17/2015 - graemeg wrote:
Hunter Valley - 6 Cellar Doors (Hunter Valley): {screwcap, 11.5%, A$23} Grassy, sweet apple and lemon fruit. Dry palate, touch of mineral-like texture along with the grassy flavours. Light-bodied, with crunchy medium acid. Short/medium finish. Good over the medium term.
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