2022 Field of Mars Semillon B2

Single Vineyard Range

2023 Latara Vineyard Semillon                                           

Variety:      100% Semillon 

Vineyard:    Keith Tulloch Latara Vineyard

Region:       Pokolbin, Hunter Valley

Vine age:    Vines planted in 1978

Tasting Notes

From the Latara Vineyard on the corner of Deasys & McDonalds Roads in central Pokolbin, established 1978. This vineyard is owned and operated by Keith Tulloch Wine as part of our estate, and is 4.5km from the cellar door.

Whilst many Hunter Valley Semillon vineyards are established on light sandy alluvial soils, the Latara vineyard sits upon dark cracking clay soils with a gentle East-West aspect. This makes for a powerful expression of Semillon with body and frame that is more luscious and approachable, particularly as a young wine.

The aromas speak of ripe Hunter Semillon fruit, delivering more than the classic lime juice and lemon, with extra aromatic dimensions of fresh-cut apple showing the flair and expression of the Latara site. Elegant perfumes of lemon-Myrtle and verbena simmer with fresh energy across the top.

Apple-like flavours amplify throughout the palate, with ripe yellow apple crunchiness twinning with a delicious sweet red-apple tang that recedes with mouthwatering finesse.

Limited Release 186 Dozen made

Halliday Wine Companion 93 points

Technical Data
Alcohol   10.5%
pH           2.99
TA           6.3

Single Vineyard Range

2022 McKelvey Vineyard Chardonnay

Variety:     100% Chardonnay       

Vineyard:  McKelvey Vineyard

Region:     Pokolbin, Hunter Valley               

Vine age:  Vines planted in 1998                                                 

Tasting Note

Planted on a western-facing hillside on Deasys Road, Pokolbin, the McKelvey Vineyard was established in 1997/1998 by the viticulturalist and winemaker David Lowe; the property is proudly family-owned and operated, farmed by Peter McKelvey and his son James. The soils on this site are profound; rich red-brown clay loam with underlying chalky limestone, one of the most desirable soils for the growth of quality Chardonnay. The rows here wrap around the contours of the hills and valleys of a magnificent property, with Chardonnay running both NE-SW and NW-SE, balancing the exposure and shading of the fruit across the sunny days of the growing season. The quality vinestock here is also important, with Chardonnay clone I10V5 highly recognised for generating fruit with strong varietal distinction and wine quality.

The 2022 Chardonnay is a silky, sophisticated wine. There is fine frame and finesse, yet complexity grows in aromatic power as it breathes from an initial spark of flint and struck match to reveal cinnamon, ripe peach and autolysis. The palate follows through with ripe pineapple, super-smooth creamy softness and peach-skin crunch. These elements of fruit quality, ferment funk and barrel maturation beckon and entice as a young wine, but even more certainly as a wine that will reward those who cellar it.

Drink: Now - 2030 
257 dozen made.

95 points Wine Companion

Technical Data

Alcohol:  13.6%
pH:          3.24
TA:          7.3        

Single Vineyard Range

Celest Vineyard Chardonnay

Variety:   Chardonnay 100%

Vineyard: Celest Vineyard

Region:    Broke-Fordwich, Hunter Valley

Tasting Note

Planted in 1988 into alluvial soils washed down from the ancient sandstone hills bounding the southern wall of the vineyard, in the Broke valley.
Full of vivid freshness, energy and precision, showing lifted reductive accents of struck-match plus undercurrent aromas of crushed oyster shell. The main fruit florals are of acacia-flower, rockmelon, ripe white peach and soft yellow fig, plus warmer scents of honey, vanilla and biscotti.
Flavours are fine framed and direct, fleshy peach opens to musk melon, giving delicious fruit length and persistence with a positive crisp fullness throughout and a tang of crunchy red apple towards the finish. Satin-soft barrel spices give lovely harmony with textural yeast-lees creaminess, subtle notes of almond-meal and shortbread. Acidity is tightly wound with beautiful lift, showing the crystalline flavours of the sea, bright with clear-cut minerality.
A trophy and Gold medal winner at the Hunter Valley wine show, so drink some now and cellar the rest, either way it’s a very classy wine.

Drink: Now – 2030

Limited edition – only 244 dozen made

93 pts Halliday Wine Companion
Trophy at Hunter Valley Wine Show

95 points The Real Review

Technical Data
Alc: 13.0

pH: 3.18

TA: 6.9

Single Vineyard Range

2023 Tawarri Vineyard Shiraz

Variety:     100% Shiraz

Region:     Upper Hunter Valley

Vineyard:  Tawarri Vineyard 

Tasting Note

A unique vineyard in the Hunter Valley at 460m above sea level, with fertile black earth soils and rich basalt, characterised by cool Summer nights and even a dusting of snow through the Winter months. The Shiraz vines are 28 years old producing fruit with ripe black flavours of impressive density.
A twinning of black and red fruits delivers aromas of lush blackberry with flashes of plum and raspberry. The cooler climate fresh eucalyptus and wild bramble notes of mint leaf and fresh aniseed add to the perfumed core of opulent black fruits.
The same concentration rules the palate from start to a very long finish: supple and velvety, energetic and fresh, with a combination of power and elegance. The abundant black fruits anchor the palate, blackberry and licorice, with a finer tannin foundation already satin soft and supple yet beautifully nuanced from 12 months in a large format French oak barrel, accenting notes of vanilla and cinnamon.

I recommend decanting, particularly until the 5th year in bottle, to amplify the Tawarri-site accents to their max.

Halliday Wine Companion 95 points

Drink: Now – 2035

Limited Edition – only 193 dozen made

Technical Data

Alcohol: 13.5%

pH: 3.5

TA: 6.3