Nose
Classic young Semillon – fresh, scented fruit aromas of lemon rind, quince, apple and fig.
Palate
Presents a generous, yet fresh and crisp combination of apple, grapefruit and fig flavours across the middle palate and finishes with a honey-like sweetness, over just a touch of astringency at the back. There is good length and smooth texture.
Growing Conditions
Let’s begin by saying it’s good to be back. Readers may have noted there was no 2012 Moss Wood Semillon and we are sad to admit this is the first time we haven’t released this wine since the original vintage in 1977. We must also admit last year’s wine was not sold because it simply wasn’t good enough. We have a proud, 36 year history of making high quality Semillon and we could not risk our reputation by selling a wine that did not meet the highest standard.
Having got that out of the way, we are also pleased to note that our comeback wine is from a particularly good year. The dream run for quality continued but unfortunately not for quantity. Initially our spring weather was good and flowering conditions were excellent. Regular rain without damaging winds had kept the vines growing nicely. Flowering commenced in the first week of November and the next 2 weeks were delightful, with daily temperatures in the low to mid 20’s, apart from the 21st, when the mercury peaked at a beach-going 29oC.
Unfortunately, it was too good to be true. A strong weather system arrived on the 27th November and continued to batter us for the next 4 days, including a serious hailstorm on the 29th. Since the weather had been so good during the preceding 2 weeks, the Semillon had finished flowering and this may have been a blessing. Had the recently opened flowers been subjected to the full fury of the storm, our yield losses may have been even worse. Regardless, our yields took a big hit with the Old Block eventually producing 5.61 tonnes per hectare, down by 48% compared to its average of 10.7. The School Fees block yielded 10.1 tonnes per hectare, down 20% on its long term average of 12.65. We suspect that damage in the latter was limited by virtue of its more sheltered location, although the physical appearance at the time didn’t really suggest this.
The last time we had an event like this was December 1996 and its impact was slightly less serious. Old Block Semillon yield in 1997 was 9.08 tonnes per hectare, 15% down on the long term average. The earlier storm was no less severe but came from the southwest, as opposed to the northwest in 2012, meaning the Semillon was much more exposed last year.
Once this problem was behind us, we proceeded to have a much more normal year. The birds began to show their usual interest and so nets were applied toward the end of January and we avoided any damage. Our fungicide spray program was successful and we had no disease issues and as we arrived at the beginning of February we settled into masterly inactivity while we waited for the fruit to ripen.
