2017 Jasper Hill Georgia’s Paddock Semillon, Heathcote

Pale colour. Ansieed, fennel lemon, camomile aromas with yeasty complexity and lanolin notes. Fresh lemon aniseed flavours, fine chalky consistency, savoury roasted chestnut complexity and long acid cut. A touch of spearmint at the finish. A very intriguing wine with fresh buoyant fruit and underlying oak complexity. 14% Alc 93 points – Now – 2028

Established by Ron and Elva Laughton, ever since the first vintage in 1982 Jasper Hill has been a small, family business. As the vineyards and their two daughters have grown over the years, both Emily and Georgia continue to work within the business. Emily has been passionately growing grapes and making wine alongside her father since 2001, whilst Georgia enjoys doing most of the administrative work. Ron and Elva live amongst the vines on Emily’s Paddock; Emily lives on Georgia’s Paddock vineyard with her husband Nick, daughter Ella and son Nate. Nick is also a highly valued member of the team, both in the vineyard and in the cellar. Only time will tell, if the next young generation will continue the wine making tradition of their grandfather and mother.

Back on the list, after missing the 2016 vintage. Miniscule volumes of this white Bordeaux styled wine: has a rounded palate of buttery honey and lanolin with a new French oak background and a light tannic finish. Fourteen months bottle age prior to release, it has already thrown a small harmless tartrate “wine diamonds” deposit. Ideally matched to oily fish or roast chicken. 14.0% alc/vol

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