Braemore Vineyard, planted in 1969, is among the best in the valley. It sits in the Hunter Semillon dress circle on the sandy alluvial flats of Hermitage Road, Pokolbin. Thomas is one of about 12 producers, including Tyrrell’s, on this narrow, two-kilometre strip of ‘Grand Cru’ Semillon soil. Once an ancient sea floor, the deep, sandy loam is free-draining, allowing the roots to dig deep. The site is renowned for producing some of the finest examples of classic Hunter Valley Semillon and is particularly famed for remarkable longevity. “The thing that sets Braemore apart, what gives it its longevity, is that extra level of intensity and concentration that comes from Semillon grown on this kind of soil,” Andrew told us.
The various blocks within Braemore Vineyard were handpicked in February. Each batch was meticulously hand-sorted to ensure only the very best fruit went through for pressing as whole bunches to minimise phenolic extraction. After fermentation, the wine spent a few weeks on lees before bottling.
Vivid, pristine and pure, this screams quality from the first sniff. The 2024 shimmers with citrus and white flowers, underpinned by a mouthwatering mineral line. It’s a delightful nerve ball, crackling with energy and layered with complexity.