2023 Sandalford Botrytis Semillon
Up front marmalade notes - mostly apricot, but hints of oranges also, evolving into orange blossom. This wine is super luscious with a beautiful acid balance leading to a long and cleansing finish. Serve chilled.
Winemaker comments
Winemaker Notes
This wine was made in the traditional manner of Australian Botrytis styles. Fully botrytised fruit was harvested and pressed before clarification and cold fermentation. Fermentation was terminated early to preserve the natural grape sugars. Post ferment, the wine was stabilised and further clarified prior to bottling.
Meet the maker
By the time I turned 18, I had become fascinated with wine. I was keen to learn as much about wine as I could and I received some great advice: to work in the industry before committing to any tertiary study....
Continue Reading > I was lucky enough to get my start at the cellars at Houghton Wines, here in the Swan Valley. I loved it, and it was the beginning of a career which was to eventually see me spend 20 years with Houghton’s. But first, I wanted to discover what traditional winemaking was like in the northern hemisphere. I took myself off to Burgundy, France, where I worked several vintages learning as much as I could about the craft of winemaking from some the best in the business. Returning to Australia I continued my career, picking up a few awards in the process of learning more and more about winemaking and achieving Bachelor of Applied Science and Oenology at Charles Sturt University, NSW. I was awarded the inaugural Gourmet Traveler Young Winemaker of the Year 2001, James Halliday’s Winemaker of the year in 2009, Winemaker of the Year in Ray Jordan's 2017 Annual West Australian Wine Guide, and I’ve judged extensively at capital city and regional wine shows. Australia makes some amazing world class wines! I’ve been fortunate to be Senior Winemaker at Sandalford Wines since March 2021 and I’m delighted every day by our estates’ old vines, the passion of the viticulture team here, and the outcomes we are able to achieve each vintage.
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Continue Reading > I was lucky enough to get my start at the cellars at Houghton Wines, here in the Swan Valley. I loved it, and it was the beginning of a career which was to eventually see me spend 20 years with Houghton’s. But first, I wanted to discover what traditional winemaking was like in the northern hemisphere. I took myself off to Burgundy, France, where I worked several vintages learning as much as I could about the craft of winemaking from some the best in the business. Returning to Australia I continued my career, picking up a few awards in the process of learning more and more about winemaking and achieving Bachelor of Applied Science and Oenology at Charles Sturt University, NSW. I was awarded the inaugural Gourmet Traveler Young Winemaker of the Year 2001, James Halliday’s Winemaker of the year in 2009, Winemaker of the Year in Ray Jordan's 2017 Annual West Australian Wine Guide, and I’ve judged extensively at capital city and regional wine shows. Australia makes some amazing world class wines! I’ve been fortunate to be Senior Winemaker at Sandalford Wines since March 2021 and I’m delighted every day by our estates’ old vines, the passion of the viticulture team here, and the outcomes we are able to achieve each vintage.
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Tasting notes
Varietals
Varietal
Semillon
Colour
Other Notes
Golden straw.
Nose
Production
Classic botrytised fruit characteristics of dried apricot, lime marmalade, exotic spice, orchard blossom and candied pineapple.
Palate
Tasting Note
Layered flavours of apricot, lime citrus, marmalade and orange peel with hints of spice enveloping the palate. The wine is sweet and luscious with the natural, bright acidity providing palate balance. Serve well chilled.
Vintage Conditions
Vineyard Notes
Overall, a challenging year in the vineyard for most growers with wet and cool weather being a common theme. The start of vintage was delayed, and despite the challenges, the season produced good fruit quality and excellent flavours as a result of the cool conditions and low yields.
