Torbreck Woodcutter's Semillon 2022

A bright and fresh semillon with sliced green apples, pears and mineral aromas and flavors. Some aniseed. It’s medium-bodied with crisp acidity. Real Aussie semillon. So fresh and beautiful. Tangy and driven. Subtle. These are grapes from vineyards planted in sand in 1890. Drink or hold. Screw cap.

The 2022 Woodcutter's Semillon is from two vineyards; the Schulz vineyard (Ebenezer) and Philippou vineyard (Rowland Flat), and the two patches in this latter vineyard are picked independently. (The "old" part was planted 1893, and the "young" in 1900. These are "full Madeira clones," says Ian Hongell, meaning they're purple/red berries—the variety has the ability to switch from green to red at veraison.) Both are sand vineyards, picked and fermented separately. 2022 was a beautiful cool season in the Barossa, and this wine here is aromatically fresh and tight. In the mouth, the wine is salty and textural—from part (40%) of the blend being matured in seasoned barriques; "texture without a phenolic fingerprint." This has salted yellow grapefruit, lemon peel, hints of saffron, layers of green apple and a hint of spring florals. It is really good, engaging, delicious.