2018 ILR Reserve Semillon

ICON RANGE

This wine showcases remarkable balance and is a notable successor to the highly praised 2017 vintage, serving as an exceptional example of Semillon. The 2018 vintage in the Hunter Valley was a stress-free growing season. The low rainfall during 2017 resulted in minimal foliage and prompted the fruit to ripen earlier than usual. Harvest began on January 15th, with all Semillon grapes picked by the end of the month. Therefore, some blocks around the Hunter Valley showed higher sugar levels than usual. The 2018 semillons are superb and a solid comparison to 2014. This ILR Reserve fruit was sourced from the Oakey Creek Vineyard on Oakey Creek Road in the heart of Pokolbin. The Oakey Creek Vineyard was first planted in 1982 by the pioneering Drayton’s family, and is today one of the Hunter Valley’s most awarded sites. Brokenwood has purchased Semillon from the vineyard since the early 1990s, and over this time, it has been the backbone of the fruit supply for our award-winning Semillon. The vineyard’s composition provides a combination of free-draining alluvial over clay soil with a gentle easterly facing rise, providing almost perfect growing conditions for Semillon. Brokenwood purchased this vineyard in 2021.