Not the easiest varietal to find bottled on its own in New Zealand; but one white variety that does age very, very well. This 2017 is just a pup in terms of ability to last – one trip to Australia I bought a ten-year old vintage from the Hunter Valley that had just been released! This Hawke’s Bay wine was grown on Askerne’s upper terrace and sees fermentation in barrel. A vibrant, pale green-straw colour in the glass. There is a little spice and toast on the nose from the barrel, but look for grapefruit, dried pineapple, nectarine, lemon curd and green herbal notes too. Acidity is key to the dry palate – with a slatey minerality alongside that crisp drive, giving a fine line through the wine. Concentrated and rounded, with a generous, silky mouthfeel. The spice returns, with some white pepper notes added, before a lengthy finish. 93pts
Askerne Semillon 2017
