Tyrrell's : Vat 1 Semillon 2019

Characteristics and tasting notes for the Vat 1 Semillon 2019 Tyrrell's

Tasting

Color

The color reveals a pale, brilliant yellow hue, reflecting the wine's youth and remarkable clarity.

Nose

The nose reveals intense floral aromas accompanied by pronounced citrus notes, with hints of lime, grapefruit and lemon. Mineral touches evoking flint and wet stone add to this aromatic palette, while waxy and slightly honeyed nuances begin to emerge.

Palate

On the palate, this wine impresses with its depth and power while maintaining remarkable elegance. The generous, open palate reveals intense flavors of citrus, cooked apple and stone fruit, underpinned by mineral touches of flint and candied lemon. The lively, refreshing acidity brings perfect balance and exceptional length on the finish, with a silky texture that flows across the palate.

Food and wine pairing

This Australian white wine pairs beautifully with grilled seafood, particularly prawns and lobster with lemon butter. It also matches wonderfully with roast chicken with truffle and thyme, salt cod, or pork skewers. It can also be enjoyed as an aperitif.

Service and storage

The Vat 1 Semillon 2019 is best enjoyed at a temperature between 10 and 12°C. This wine has exceptional aging potential and can be cellared until around 2043, or even beyond. It is recommended to enjoy it from 2026 onward to fully appreciate its complexity.

Other characteristics

A dry wine with lively acidity and a pronounced mineral structure, characteristic of the great Semillons of the Hunter Valley destined for long aging.

An iconic Hunter Valley Semillon with exceptional aging potential

The estate

Founded in 1858 by Edward Tyrrell in the Hunter Valley in New South Wales, Tyrrell's is one of Australia's oldest family-owned wine estates. Now led by Chris Tyrrell, who represents the fifth generation at the helm of the estate since 2023, the property spans 350 hectares of vines. Tyrrell's has established itself as the leading reference for Australian Semillon and ranks among the country's most awarded producers. The estate was named number one in the Halliday Wine Companion Top 100 Wineries in 2024. A pioneer in adopting screw caps for quality wines and certified under the Sustainable Winegrowing Australia program, the estate carries on age-old expertise while constantly innovating.

The vineyard

The Vat 1 Semillon 2019 comes exclusively from the historic Short Flat vineyard, located in the Hunter Valley in New South Wales. This exceptional terroir spans 12.51 hectares of sandy soils and red clay. The oldest vines in this plot were planted in 1923 and are the estate's oldest Semillon vines. Grown without irrigation according to traditional Australian methods, these century-old vines grow on their own roots and produce grapes of remarkable concentration. The altitude and soil composition give the wine its characteristic minerality and exceptional aging capacity.

The vintage

The 2019 vintage was marked by particularly favorable climatic conditions in the Hunter Valley. The year began with a mild, wet winter that replenished water reserves, followed by a very dry spring and early summer. Welcome rains at the end of winter ensured good vegetative growth, before a hot, dry period that naturally concentrated the aromas in the berries. Slightly below-average yields enhanced the aromatic intensity of the grapes. Harvest took place on February 5 and 6, 2019, allowing the fruit to be picked at optimal ripeness.

Winemaking and aging

The Vat 1 Semillon 2019 is crafted using a minimalist approach that favors the expression of terroir. The grapes are hand-harvested at night to preserve their freshness. After gentle pressing to extract only the free-run juice, fermentation takes place at controlled temperature in stainless steel tanks. No oak is used in the process, and malolactic fermentation is not carried out. The wine is aged in stainless steel tanks, then bottled early to preserve its natural vibrancy. Several years of bottle aging precede its release, allowing its aromatic complexity to develop.

Grape variety

100% Semillon