1998 Rothbury Estate Brokenback Semillon

Notes sourced from Southern Cross Wines.

The Rothbury Estate Brokenback range constitutes the pinnacle of winemaking at one of the Hunter Valley's most famous wineries. The fruit for each of the wines is sourced from vineyards at the foot of the famous Brokenback ranges to the west of Pokolbin.The Brokenback Semillon is a classic example of one of Australia's great white wine styles - Lower Hunter Semillon. Picked early and low in sugar the style is traditionally tart and citrusy in its youth before blossoming into a rich, gorgeous toasty complex white with five or more years in the bottle.Semillon is a thin-skinned variety which is prone to splitting, so subsequently the fruit is picked early. The semillon for this wine was hand picked from 30 year-old, low yielding, dry land Semillon in the lower Hunter. The fruit was crushed and chilled to 10'C at the winery before settling and being racked into a cool and controlled fermentation. After fermentation, the yeast was allowed to settle and the wine was held cool for six months. Malolactic fermentation or oak usage was not employed in the production of this semillon so as to retain maximum fruit flavour and elegance.The 1998 Brokenback Semillon has pale straw appearance and is vibrant and appealing. The wine is brilliant with a light green hue when young. On the nose there are aromas of fresh, youthful Hunter Semillon with zesty lime, citrus and grass notes. There are also hints of pungent lemon with a touch of spice. On the palate the wine is instantly refreshing with austere, tight acid that drives the wine. Steely, limey acid gives length to the varietal Semillon flavours of lemon, citrus and fresh grass. A low alcohol lightness is delicate and enticing and chalky mineral characters are also evident on the palate which is almost European in structure.The cellaring potential of premium Hunter Valley Semillon is well known. This wine is a fine example of the variety and should have excellent capacity for aging. The 1998 Brokenback Semillon should peak between 2005 and 2008, but may last considerably longer. As semillon develops, classic toast and honey characters appear, adding complexity to the style.