Wine review: Mount Horrocks Watervale Semillon 2015

Mount Horrocks Watervale Semillon 2015 $25-$30

Stephanie Toole's semillon takes us a world away from the more austere, lemony-tart Hunter Valley styles. Picked early, often achieving only 10 or 11 per cent alcohol, and fermented without oak, the Hunter style generally needs years to flesh out, then does so delightfully. Mount Horrocks is harvested riper (achieving 13 per cent alcohol), produced from the finest component of the juice and fermented entirely in new and older French oak barrels. The extra ripeness, combined with barrel fermentation and maturation, gives full-flavoured, though still lemon-like semillon, with a rich but delicate texture and super tangy, fresh, dry finish.

​