Usher Tinkler Big Bad Bill Semillon 2024
The Wine
The wine is named after Usher's father William 'Bill' Tinkler, who planted the Semillon vines at their family farm in 1980. The vineyard is about 1.5 hectares in size, all cane pruned, hand-tended, sustainably farmed on classic Hunter red terracotta clay soil.
Hand picked, destemmed and whole berry pressed into tank. The juice was cold settled overnight before racking off the clear juice and fermenting this in tank. No oak, no MLF. The wine was clarified and bottle at 8 months. Drink now to 20+ years.
The Details
Variety - Semillon
Country - Australia
Region - Hunter Valley
Sub Region - Pokolbin
Extra - Cork
Year - 2024
Volume - 750ml
About the Wine Maker 
Without question one of the most exciting and progressive producers in recent times hailing from the Hunter Valley. In addition Usher Tinkler own some superb vineyards in Pokolbin, over 60 hectares in fact. Usher is the third in the line of 3 Usher’s, a true family name something I can’t help love especially due to my wanting to break out the album 8701 every time we talk. The family can truly claim their connection to the land with Usher’s grandfather working as a dairyman, his father as a cattleman and now Usher as a vigneron and winemaker. The cellar door itself is actually the original Church of Pokolbin which was built in 1905, more recently renovated by Usher as the home of Usher Tinkler wines.
The range of wines are wonderfully diverse. The Reserve Chardonnay is very a modern expression from the Hunter, a judicious use of oak alongside a Shiraz sourced from some superb old vines that the estate own. The Natural wines are showcasing the Hunter in a new light but I can assure you, these wines are made with some serious attention to detail and are clean, delicious bottlings.
