Tyrrell's Hunter Valley Semillon: Why It's So Good. 2022 - 1998

[@anatolkaczmarek2540]

Truly appreciative of Your insights which incite me with each posted video to dig deeper into Australian wines. Even though Hunter Valley Semillons can be rarely found in Poland I just happened to have the 2013 VAT 1 and it was illuminating with so much youth and maturity all at once:) too bad that Poland being such a huge market with biggest wine consumption growth potential in all Europe has such modest availabilty of Australian fine wines. Hope that changes soon.

[@erinlarkin]

Me too, but so glad you got a look at the 2013 Vat 1! What a wine. Thank you for your comment, and for watching 🙏

[@wyattalexander4041]

Such a great video showcasing the delightful Changes and the Longevity of Tyrrell’s Semmillon! Unfortunately I’ve not had access to the older wines but I’ll sure be looking out and hope to find some thank you for sharing!

[@erinlarkin]

It’s a pretty special experience, the style is unlike any other around the world. And for the price (ie, very little) it’s a thrilling proposition.

[@kendavis7248]

I opened a bottle of the 1999 in July last year. Everything was there: the lemon, the honeysuckle, the creamy brioche, all so fresh and vibrant. Just wonderful. Quite a revelation.

[@erinlarkin]

Having just tasted the 1998, I know precisely what you mean!

[@kendavis7248]

Yesterday I attended a vertical tasting of Mount Pleasant Lovedale Semillon for 2023, 2014, 2011, 2003, 2001 and 1996. A real privilege to taste these wines, and also the 2018 (tasted that one in the Lovedale vineyard), with former wine maker Phil Ryan. Interesting to taste the Semillons at various stages of development. I love that the winery has started these masterclasses. Next one is Pinot Noir.

[@erinlarkin]

Mount Pleasant a classy producer, and the Lovedale Sem an impressive wine.

[@andrewwood86]

Fantastic video. I don’t believe I had ever tried a HV Semillon before, however after watching this I managed to find a 2005 Vat 1 at Dan Murphy’s. Simply amazing is all I can say!!

[@erinlarkin]

It's a very specific flavour profile, one that I don't find in other styles of wine, or indeed, Semillon grown elsewhere.. Glad you liked it!

[@oujoaklandca675]

Would you consider decanting/fast decant/double decant the 2022 or 2017 to try to loosen up some of what's in there?

[@andrewchadban8554]

Gotta love Screwcaps.

[@erinlarkin]

Sure do.

[@minka8047]

@ Erin Larkin, what happens to the rest of the bottle after you've reviewed the wine ? How much of it goes down the sink? I am looking at your your bench and I see Domaine A , Thisledown,Wendowree and a few other really nice bottles......

[@1949cr]

Interesting question??

[@erinlarkin]

I gas them with argon and give them away. Some bottles will be of particular interest to some people, so I’ll contact them and ask if they want to see them. I figure, if the winery has sent me a whole bottle, and I don’t choose to keep it and drink it myself, that it’s better for everyone (winery, me, other people) if I share them. So, I give 95% of the bottles away. I drink and enjoy my favourites over the following week or so. Perks of the job!

[@minka8047]

Somehow knowing that they end up in a glass somewhere makes me feel a whole lot better 😂!

[@davidanderson2256]

Xlnt comments. I have been drinking tyrrells semillon for over 30 years. It is un trendy like riesling. Both age amazingly well. I love the 2006. Good when it was yoing, great drinking now. But it will get better. I have all the wines you tasted and look forwarded to sharing the experience with friends in the future

[@erinlarkin]

I had a bottle of the ‘06 just two weeks and it was superb.

[@whitty75]

I love these. I have half a case of the 21 I’ll try to keep for aging.

[@erinlarkin]

I'd buy six every year and just keeping pushing the newest ones toward the back. Don't keep track of what you've got, and don't be tempted by the young ones. Once you hit seven years of constant purchasing you'll be right to drink some occasionally, and from then... a gloriously rotating selection of wines on offer.

[@whitty75]

That does sound like a plan !

[@coachshieldz6818]

Tyrrells are so so special.

[@erinlarkin]

I agree with you!

[@1949cr]

That Brie comment was masterful. I have often wondered about that edgy bitterness that enhances the lanolin and creamy notes of old Hunters.

[@gerardgreen3441]

Hi Erin Bruce Tyrell is hosting a dinner in London at the end of February. It includes a 5 year vertical of his Vat1. I’m unfamiliar with his wines. My wine consumption is mainly focused on France and Italy. Is this an opportunity I should jump at? Great videos by the way. They are opening my elderly eyes to a wider vinous world!

[@LensCapJB]

Definitely go to that. You'll enjoy dinner and a show

[@erinlarkin]

I would certainly go to that if I could. Bruce Tyrrell himself leading the conversation... what a special night that promises to be. Thanks for watching!

[@johnduncan9253]

Semillion has all but disappeared in NZ. Pity, I recall Pyramid Valley made an exceptional one from Canterbury grapes I think.

[@erinlarkin]

You make a good point I didn’t taste too many semillons when I was last tasting in NZ (an annual trip for me). I suppose in a country that does Sauvignon Blanc so very well, there’s less need for it.

[@benswan2251]

How would the cheaper hunters go at these ages? Hard to invest such high sums (vat 1= $70) for such an extended period. Also any experience with WA semillions and their aging potential?

[@LensCapJB]

The great curse and gift of Semillon; they mark the passage of time. The Vat 1s ready to open today were laid down before iPhones existed. The ones I buy today won't be ready until my children graduate highschool. And the vintage I will buy at 60 I'll never be able to taste... Cellar release is the closest you'll ever get to time travel.

[@erinlarkin]

A good way to look at it! They're great at any age... just depends on the experience you're after.

[@thegrynne]

Life is indeed short and my cellaring capacity is limited. I can’t be insane for thinking I’d rather use it on wines that are superb at every age rather than something that takes a decade or more to reveal its potential?

[@erinlarkin]

Absolutely Diana, you make a good point. If you're interested in Semillon but don't want to wait to find out what aged Semillon is like by cellaring it yourself, maybe try sourcing some old bottles and drinking them, and seeing if for you, the wait would be worth it. If not, move on to something else.

[@shaunsandow2073]

Always excellent semillon - vat 1 is great but most Tyrrell’s sem is good to great. Not such a fan of some of their reds.

[@erinlarkin]

I love some of the reds... old vine Shiraz in particular... but the Semillons are excellent, as you say.

[@shaunsandow2073]

@@erinlarkin Its been several years since I tried Tyrrell’s reds…with several in the back of the cellar - the johnos is probably good (the 2012 has been there ~6 years) but the entry level isn’t the go ☹️. Will look at some other odd ones from langtons and test your view😁.

[@YTviewer118]

What cracks me up about these wine 'professionals' is once they've delivered their spiel of nonsense such as "we're moving into like... you know when you get that little... you might be eating like a, really good triple cream brie and the rind has that little like little sting of bitterness on the edge but it goes so well with the creamy inside of the cheese that it only elevates the experience.... there's a little edge to this wine just like that" - I mean what the hell did I just listen to? Once they've delivered that they end up using the same words over and over, in this womans case "exciting" - She's saying a lot of words but not really saying anything at all. Another example @ 7:15 "This has everything that we've talked about, it's creamed honey, it's got cold buttered toast, there's cheese cloth and brine, there's triple cream brie (repeated again) there's that creaminess on the inner and the bitter soft kinda casing on the outside" Again... who talks like this? She's that woman at the dinner table who critiques the wine with the same old script and book of descriptions she always uses.

[@Ld-ky5si]

Noone asked for this spiel from you big boy

[@Ld-ky5si]

Your the bloke at the dinner table whos bitter soft empty casing of a human that everyone wonders who brought them along

[@YTviewer118]

​@@Ld-ky5si (You're*), here, I'll use it properly.. YOUR insult (if we can call it that) was a good attempt, albeit using primary school grammar but the hilarity of your remarks is I'm not a dog, nobody brings me along and contrary to what you seem to have assumed, I am far from bitter, quite the opposite in fact and I'm certainly not empty, I'm full of life! I am one thing however, honest, brutally one might add, I speak what I think, as do you it seems. In any case, it's merely my opinion, maybe even a review lets say. You're entitled to your own opinion of me, except my remarks and opinions are based on factual observations and points (in the video) and yours are from an assumptive and personal standpoint based on your experience of having an emotional reaction towards my comment. Anyhoo, no need to take it too personally, nobody gets out alive anyway.

[@YTviewer118]

@@Ld-ky5si Just seen this as well, nobody said you needed to step up and respond little boy.