2025 Thomas Wines Fordwich Hill Semillon, Hunter Valley

From the historic Fordwich Hill vineyard in the heart of the Hunter Valley, this Semillon from Thomas Wines reflects Andrew Thomas’s dedication to showcasing the individuality of the region’s great sites. Thomas founded his winery in 1997 after working alongside the legendary Murray Tyrrell, gaining a deep understanding of the Hunter’s vineyards and its signature varieties. Since then he has built a reputation as one of the region’s leading specialists in Semillon and Shiraz, focusing on small parcels of fruit from some of the Valley’s most respected growers. The Fordwich Hill vineyard sits in the Pokolbin district where sandy alluvial soils and the warm Hunter climate produce Semillon with purity, brightness and remarkable longevity.

Hunter Valley Semillon is one of Australia’s most distinctive wine styles. Typically picked early to preserve natural acidity, the wines are light in alcohol and beautifully crisp in their youth. With time in bottle they transform dramatically, developing complex notes of honey, toast and lanolin while retaining a vibrant line of acidity. The Fordwich Hill release captures that classic style, offering both immediate freshness and the promise of graceful evolution in the cellar.

The wine shows a pale straw colour with bright green highlights. Aromas are lifted and vibrant with lemon zest, lime and green apple layered with hints of citrus blossom and delicate herbal notes. The palate is crisp, pure and finely structured with flavours of lemon, grapefruit and fresh orchard fruit supported by lively acidity and a clean mineral thread. The finish is long and refreshing, leaving a bright citrus lift that is unmistakably Hunter Valley Semillon.

While delicious in its youth, this wine will reward patience in the cellar and can develop beautifully for fifteen years or more, gradually revealing the classic honeyed and toasty complexity that makes aged Hunter Valley Semillon so revered. It is particularly well suited to fresh oysters, grilled fish, prawns and other seafood dishes where the wine’s acidity and purity can shine.