2024 Field of Mars Viognier B1

FIELD OF MARS - Single Vineyard Range                            

Field of Mars  Block 2 Semillon  2022

Variety:   100% Semillon

Region:    Pokolbin, Hunter Valley

Vineyard: Field of Mars Vineyard

Vine age: Vines planted in 1968

Soil:         Fine, sandy alluvial 

Tasting Note 

Planted in 1968 on the finest alluvial sand; this vineyard generates lovely purity of fruit with a beautiful fresh acid profile and extraordinary flavour length, the result of mild weather conditions and a longer ripening season.
Classic aromatic signatures of Meyer-lemon are matched with the cooler growing and ripening aromas of orange grapefruit provide real lift and energy. The bouquet’s fruit intensity jumps immediately from the glass: slightly tropical with zest and pith, yet completely satisfying with juicy yellow-citrus ripeness.
Jasmine perfumes are present too, but the zesty citrus dominates now with absolute clarity.
These same citrus fruits fill the palate with terrific focus and vibrant tension, harmonising this lovely fruit ripeness with saline dryness and energy. This Semillon’s balance is fine and bright, delivering the classic line-and-length of the very best, finishing with hints of mineral plus subtle “Gin & Tonic” savouriness.
A great future ahead, with a delicate yet exuberant pure fruit expression from the very first sip, this has the timeless vibrant freshness of a classic in the making.
Keep for 5 to 7 years to enjoy at its early maturity, or after  to 15 years to see at its greatest.

Limited Edition - only 160 dozen made

Drink: now – 2040                                   

95 points Halliday Wine Companion

TECHNICAL

Alc: 10.2

pH: 3.0

TA: 7.3

Single Vineyard Range

2022 WCD Shiraz

Variety:     Shiraz (100%) 
Region:     Hunter Valley

Vineyard:  WCD Vineyard

This fruit comes from a vineyard located less than 14km from our cellar door, on Wine Country Drive in central Pokolbin. This site enjoys balanced weather influences, gifting the site with slightly cooler Summer days with slightly more Easterly breeze. Soils are deep brown clays with flecks of red ironstone.

The Shiraz fruit from here has imposing ripeness yet also expresses a tinge of dark spice and ferrous savouriness, something of a classic hallmark for Hunter reds.

The aromas express dense blackfruit compote, mixing the freshness of black cherry and blood plum in even unity, plus deeper aromatic swirls of rotundone, juniper, and black Ceylon tea; on the palate, Ripe Shiraz fruit again delivers a rich seamless balance of plum and cherry, soft already onto a long finish. This inky blackfruit core is harmonised with notes of fine oak spice and cedar, and the finish delivers equally harmonious hints of graphite and black chocolate laced with licorice.

The WCD Shiraz is a charmer with bold expression yet refined soft tannins. 3 to 5 years in the cellar would be ideal, or if drinking before then decant for early reward.

Drink: Now to 2032

Only 157 dozen made

95 points Wine Companion

Technical Data

Alc 13.5%

FIELD OF MARS - Single Vineyard Range                            

Field of Mars Block 4 Chardonnay 2022

Variety:   100% Chardonnay

Region:     Pokolbin, Hunter Valley

Vineyard:  Field of Mars Vineyard

Vine Age:  Vines planted in 2014

Soils:        Fine, sandy alluvial

Tasting Note                                              

In 2014 we established Block 4 on a tiny patch of fine alluvial sand, planting Chardonnay Clone 548 on rootstock Paulson 1103. The vines are close planted to twice the normal vine number per hectare,so this vineyard is ultra-low yielding and produces high-quality wines that are powerful and complex.

Aromas are instantly engaging delivering powerful golden Summer stone fruits, plus beautiful sulphite rich scents of gunsmoke and oyster shell. The bouquet develops into an exotic mélange of fruit and flower, with hints of musk, pineapple, ozone and sea spray adding flair and substance. Finer aromas of marzipan and pistachio are there as well, with very elegant hints of cashew and vanilla, combining to deliver superb harmony of fruit.
The powerful fruit core gives terrific presence and length, opening with the glorious flavours of golden peach and white nectarine switching softly to gentle savoury notes of brown fig and soft yellow apple.
As these mainstay flavours open out, the palate reveals extra dimensions of soft velvety texture, closing with gentle French oak hints of amaretti-biscuit and nougat. Fine acidity brings the palate to an elegant yet soft finish with a tangy sea-spray salinity.
This wonderful and complex Chardonnay will be a challenge to keep. Ideal cellaring is from 2 to 6 years.

Drink: now – 2030

96 points Halliday Wine Companion

95 points The Real Review

Limited Edition - only 68 dozen made

Technical Data

Alcohol: 12.2

pH: 3.25

TA: 7.5

Museum Hunter Valley Semillon 2017

Variety:  100% Semillon
Region:  Hunter Valley
Vine Age:  Planted on own roots in 1968

Tasting Notes

Carefully aged in our cellar for seven years and now drinking beautifully, this Semillon was 100% grown on our estate vineyards. The 2017 vintage was one of the great vintages of the decades for both red and white wines, and the quality and ripeness of the fruit speaks as clearly now as the day it was harvested.

The colour has matured to a straw-yellow colour but retains flecks of shimmery green in the glass. Aromas of honey and lemon butter now add complexity around the core of Meyer lemon and Tahitian lime zest, while on the palate the concentrated nucleus of Semillon fruit has now gained supporting notes of pink apple crunchiness and baked citron tart.

A classic Hunter Semillon ready to drink now-2030

Drink: Now to 2028.
Food Match: Fresh oysters, and prawns.

Technical Data

Alcohol: 10.5%
pH: 3.00