Tyrrell's, Johnno's Semillon, Hunter Valley

Lime, meadow herb and even a touch of bay on the nose. Core of restrained exotic fruit and citrus zest with flinty/chalk minerality. Perfect balancing acidity. Has lasted much longer than my original projection so may yet surprise further over the next few years. I will never know - my last! Till perhaps ?2029

Semillon Lunch (Grappa Leichhardt) : Made in a different style to the Vat 1, the basket pressed Johnno’s is richer and more forward with a more textural mouth feel. The flavours remain in the citrus spectrum and the acidity though softening keeps the finish fresh. Drinking at its best now RW1 17.5

This has come on a lot since its last outing 18 months ago. Core of citrus zest, subtle exotic fruit, broadened out with veneer of meadow herb and asparagus. Mild pectic acidity for balance. Rustic but excellent indeed. At its peak and for drinking over the next year or so.

Green apple, lots of citrus, some elderflower and a strong mineral oil note. Improves greatly with air, showing rather open citrus fruits, waxy lemons, and some lovely mineral texture. Rather unctuous, but finishes quite light. Much more expressive than Vat 1 at this stage. Wonderfully approachable, this is delightful in the early summer.

As per my January note. Excellent but a complete contrast to its illustrious and über long-lasting stablemate (Vat 1) - if none the worse for it! For drinking up over the next year or so.

Nearly four years since my last note and now fully ready. Much more rounded/open style than its illustrious stablemate Vat 1. Packed with ripe aromatic fruit, some meadow flower nuances and flinty minerality. Citrus-led acidity holds this dry but not austere wine together. Excellent but now at its peak in my view. Till 2021.

Crisp, slightly harsh acidity, with flavours of white grapefruit and lemon pith. Minerality and chalk, plus an intriguing touch of sour cream. Very interesting, but a little too dry and bitter for my liking.

As per my 2014 note with added catty herbaceous aroma and minerality on the palate. Very fine indeed and a point. How long it stays on this plateau of excellence only time will tell.... 91+

Unscrewed for an hour before consumption. Totally unlike its famous stable mate Vat 1 but equally fine in its own right. Nose of lemon/lime zest with herbaceous nuances. A Vat 1 of this age would be be completely closed up. The aromas carried forward to the palate with the addition of some aromatic pineapply fruit and a fully integrated green gooseberry-like acid backbone that gave this vivacious medium bodied wine real structure and "zing". Ready now in my view, but …