Back to winesView a PDF of this page2003 'Epoch' Semillon Wine NotesWine Notes
Region: Hunter Valley
Alcohol: 12%
Background:
ep-och n. An interval of time memorable for extraordinary events and important influences.
Semillon is traditionally the first fruit harvested in the Hunter Valley each year for still wine production. For Meerea Park, this signals the commencement of each vintage and this is our ‘epoch’.
Fruit Source:
Crafted from Semillon sourced from the Howard’s “Somerset” vineyard in Pokolbin planted in 1968.
Fermentation & Maturation:
The handpicked fruit was fermented entirely in stainless steel then bottled in July 2003 under screwcap.
Winemaker’s comments:
2003 in the Hunter was one of the worst drought years for decades. The extreme conditions reduced yields by around 50% compared to average years but produced very clean and more importantly, ripe fruit.
Tasting note: (April 2008)
Youthful citrus has now given way to secondary characters of toast and lanolin with some dried herb nuances. The palate has filled out but still has a good acid balance which will see improvement for a few more years yet.
Cellaring: 4 years
What the experts say
"Excellent vintage for Hunter semillon and while this is made more for short-to-medium term drinking than for long term cellaring, it's fruit vitality is outstanding. Light straw-green and awash with lemon and pineapple, it's got excellent body and fruit-sweetness and decent, dry, citrussy length. Faultless. Drink: Now-2006.
90 points. Campbell Mattinson - Winefront Monthly - May 2004
“This is an aged release from Meerea Park and Epoch is their entry level semillon. From a hot and generally forward vintage, here is a wine that is doing very well.
Typical lemon, lime, a bit of dried herb, hay and some toasty development coming through. It’s has plenty of oomph and flavour with lemon barley and lime flavours, soft but clean acidity and an affable sort of chubbiness that makes it very pleasant drinking now and over the next few years. Not quite the length of a great Semillon but an excellent aged dry white at a very fair price.” Rated 91 Poimts.
Gary Walsh—The Wine Front—June 2008
Other vintages: 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2002 |
