Tyrrells Vat 1 Semillon 2019
The Wine
Vat 1 is Australia’s most awarded white wine, and it’s clear why – pure Hunter Semillon made with care, precision, and a confident hand in the vineyard. Built to age beautifully, it rivals almost every other white in the country, yet even after just a few years, it’s already showing impressive character. A true Australian icon, crafted with understated elegance.
98 Pts Huon Hooke, The Real Review ‘Bright, light yellow colour; reserved and delicate lemon and honey aromas, a hint of grassiness, but no toast yet; the palate light bodied and reserved, delicate and refined, with a big lemon-juicy finish that lingers long and harmonious. The fruit purity is impressive. Delicious, pristine semillon of great depth of flavour and harmony. It's starting to drink really well and has many years ahead of it.’
98 Pts Shanteh Wale, Wine Pilot ‘Sourced from the oldest and best blocks, dry grown vines dating back to 1923. The 2019 continues the harmonious vintage streak with superb fruit intensity showing zested limes, calamansi pip and wet river stone. Some apple blossoms and fresh linen billowing on the hills hoist. Its time in bottle has allowed the wine to snuggle into itself and drinks with the same magnitude of flavour as the nose promises, scratch that, it actually doubles down in its fruit power. Shouting from the rooftops with lime margaritas, Mirabelle plums and pistachio nougatine. A mealy cashew mid palate and a long echoing, juicy acidity and persistent length. Simply put, it’s everything you hoped it would be and drinking like an Aussie bushland dream. Its purity and complexity is and always is utterly astounding. This is the best money you can spend on an Australian wine icon. Drink now with oysters (obvs) maybe with a white wine mignonette and some sea succulent. Or put your faith in Semillon and lay down for further 10 years, 20 or 30 years plus.’
The Details
Variety - Semillon
Country - Australia
Region - Hunter Valley
Extra - Screw Cap
Year - 2019
Volume - 750mls
About the Wine Maker 
One of the most successful family wineries, a humble operation for the first 110 years of its life that has grown out of all recognition over the past 45 years. Vat 1 Semillon is one of the most dominant wines in the Australian show system and Vat 47 Chardonnay is one of the pacesetters for this variety. Its estate plantings include over 100ha in the Hunter Valley and 26ha in Heathcote. In ’17 Tyrrell’s purchased the 13.5ha Stevens Old Hillside Vineyard on Marrowbone Road; 6.11ha are planted to shiraz, including a 1.1ha block planted in 1867, the balance planted in 1963, notably to shiraz and semillon. There are 11 blocks of vines older than 100 years in the Hunter Valley and the Tyrrell family owns 7 of those blocks. JAMES HALLIDAY
