FIELD OF MARS - Single Vineyard Range
Field of Mars Semillon Block 2a 2016
Variety: 100% Semillon
Region: Pokolbin, Hunter Valley
Vineyard: Keith Tulloch Field of Mars Vineyard
Vine age: Vines planted in 1968
Tasting Note
The tiny 0.25 hectare Block 2a vineyard planted in 1968, is a real treasure - year-on -year these 50 year old Semillon vines produce exceptional varietal expression. The deep alluvial sand is key to preserving the grape's elegance and intensity, also enabling the juice to hold a natural core freshness, low pH and bright acidity.
Vintage: Cooler ripening weather with showers of rain in January 2016 leading into harvest. The very fine and pure Semillon fruit retained grape acidity for longer than normal, generating a notable degree of elegance in structure and balance.
Colour: fresh straw green flecked with a lime hue.
Aroma: Pure, centring on a focal point of scented Meyer lemon with hints of green apple. Intensity grows, with Tahitian-lime and white pineapple adding heightened steps of attractive perfume and tropical zest, with sweeter lemon still maintaining the flavour nucleus. A beautiful bouquet with timeless freshness.
Palate: The palate is similarly bright with pure yellow-citrus, shifting between lemon / lemon-curd and sweet lime, with finer sweet and pithy hints of pomelo and grapefruit giving delicious length and zesty persistence.The acidity is amazing, beautifully soft and yet showing sublime mineral-like crunchy focus, eventually fading to hints of white fig and a soft dusting of chalk. Cellaring: Very enjoyable now 4 years of age, yet will easily age for another 15 years.
139 dozen made
95 points James Halliday
Technical Data
Alcohol: 11%
pH 2.96
TA 8.3