WineLovers Discussion Group

Today, we enjoyed lunch at a most ambient historic local cafe and opened another blast from the past. Tyrrell’s 1992 Vat 1 Semillon can be a quite remarkakle wine (rated in the past up to 95 points). Our bottle today was reminiscent of how I found this about a decade ago! Possessing many of the great aged qualities one looks for in a profound Hunter semillon, this bottle requires more aging to be at its peak. It displayed a relatively youthful lemon gold colour, plenty of soapy, lime and lemon preserve fruit, spritzy G&T-like acidity and the telltale complex aged semillon notes of lemon butter, honey, toast and nuts. Unfortunately, these facets have not quite integrated and the wine deliverd a slightly edgy, somewhat unresolved overall impression. I rated it about excellent and, in this bottle’s case award it a “+” sign for a higher rating down the track once it fills out and matures! 90+ points. Quite high A/V for a Tyrrell’s Vat 1 at 12%A/V.

This sounds absolutely wonderful. Wish these were more readily available in the States!

David Lole wrote:Today, we enjoyed lunch at a most ambient historic local cafe and opened another blast from the past. Tyrrell’s 1992 Vat 1 Semillon can be a quite remarkakle wine (rated in the past up to 95 points). Our bottle today was reminiscent of how I found this about a decade ago! Possessing many of the great aged qualities one looks for in a profound Hunter semillon, this bottle requires more aging to be at its peak. It displayed a relatively youthful lemon gold colour, plenty of soapy, lime and lemon preserve fruit, spritzy G&T-like acidity and the telltale complex aged semillon notes of lemon butter, honey, toast and nuts. Unfortunately, these facets have not quite integrated and the wine deliverd a slightly edgy, somewhat unresolved overall impression. I rated it about excellent and, in this bottle’s case award it a “+” sign for a higher rating down the track once it fills out and matures! 90+ points. Quite high A/V for a Tyrrell’s Vat 1 at 12%A/V.

That's good to hear, David. We tasted quite a few when visiting Tyrrell's in the Hunter last year (along with Brokenwood, Mt. Pleasant and McGuigan) and were entranced by their ability to age gracefully (not that that came as a great surprise). We brought back as many as we could carry, but the oldest Hunter Semillon we now own is a '97 McGuigan. No doubt though that Vat 1 deserves its iconic status, as your note ably demonstrates.

Mark Lipton

Corti Brothers had a bottle or two of the 1996! Maybe I should check it out!

Brian K Miller wrote:Corti Brothers had a bottle or two of the 1996! Maybe I should check it out!

Be careful, I just dumped mine ..... all oxidised to the hilt (I've been sitting on mine in my cool cellar in wooden cases for many, many years). Check the colour in the bottle before you buy.

David Lole wrote:

Brian K Miller wrote:Corti Brothers had a bottle or two of the 1996! Maybe I should check it out!

Be careful, I just dumped mine ..... all oxidised to the hilt (I've been sitting on mine in my cool cellar in wooden cases for many, many years). Check the colour in the bottle before you buy.

Yikes.

Mark Lipton wrote:

David Lole wrote:Today, we enjoyed lunch at a most ambient historic local cafe and opened another blast from the past. Tyrrell’s 1992 Vat 1 Semillon can be a quite remarkakle wine (rated in the past up to 95 points). Our bottle today was reminiscent of how I found this about a decade ago! Possessing many of the great aged qualities one looks for in a profound Hunter semillon, this bottle requires more aging to be at its peak. It displayed a relatively youthful lemon gold colour, plenty of soapy, lime and lemon preserve fruit, spritzy G&T-like acidity and the telltale complex aged semillon notes of lemon butter, honey, toast and nuts. Unfortunately, these facets have not quite integrated and the wine deliverd a slightly edgy, somewhat unresolved overall impression. I rated it about excellent and, in this bottle’s case award it a “+” sign for a higher rating down the track once it fills out and matures! 90+ points. Quite high A/V for a Tyrrell’s Vat 1 at 12%A/V.

That's good to hear, David. We tasted quite a few when visiting Tyrrell's in the Hunter last year (along with Brokenwood, Mt. Pleasant and McGuigan) and were entranced by their ability to age gracefully (not that that came as a great surprise). We brought back as many as we could carry, but the oldest Hunter Semillon we now own is a '97 McGuigan. No doubt though that Vat 1 deserves its iconic status, as your note ably demonstrates.

Mark Lipton

Thanks, Mark.