2021 De Iuliis Semillon, Hunter Valley

It would be tough to beat this as a proprietary first cab off the rank. Scents of icy pole, ginger shavings, lemongrass, raw almond and lemon zest rolled into the lightweight, crunchy mould of regional typicity. Good now, better in 5 years.

92 points Special Value Ned Goodwin MW winecompanion.com.au Aug 2022

De Iuliis Semillon from the Hunter Valley is a classic expression of one of Australia’s most distinctive white wines. Crisp, pure, and built to age beautifully, this Semillon is all about precision and restraint. Sourced from the sandy alluvial soils of the Hunter’s lower valley floor, the wine reflects the region’s unique ability to produce low alcohol whites with remarkable flavour intensity and longevity.

De Iuliis is a family-run winery with Michael De Iuliis at the helm, known for his meticulous vineyard work and clean, modern winemaking. The Semillon is picked early to retain acidity and freshness, then cold fermented in stainless steel with no oak contact. The result is a bone-dry, mineral wine with laser-like focus and a long citrus-driven finish.

In its youth, it shows notes of lime zest, green apple, lemongrass and wet stone. With age, it evolves into something richer and more complex, developing honeyed toast, lanolin and lemon curd while still maintaining that bright, linear core. It’s one of those rare whites that can be cellared for over a decade and continue improving.

Perfect with freshly shucked oysters, prawns, grilled fish or Vietnamese dishes, De Iuliis Semillon is a benchmark Hunter Valley white that consistently overdelivers.