Halliday Winemaker of the Year 2021. Andrew Caillard MW 96 points. Medium pale colour. Fresh and intense lemon curd, apricot, white peach aromas with marzipan notes. Beautifully balanced wine with deep set lemon curd, apricot, white peach, orange rind flavours, fine loose-knit chalky textures, superb mid-palate viscosity and crunchy fresh acidity. Very good density and vinosity. From 1941 plantings. Drink now – 2028. 12.8% alc 96 points. Magnolia 1941 Semillon (100%) 641 bottles produced. No Fining, No Filtration. Tasting notes: Lemon, lemon rind, lemon curd, marzipan, nougat, saline, oyster shell and mineral lines. NOTE FROM WINEMAKER BRETT GROCKE: The Magnolia 1941 Semillon is an attempt to make the best possible Semillon of the vineyard and greater region. It is wholly from the 1941 block and is from the two best barrels of the 2020 vintage. For too many years I’ve watched too many old vine Semillon vineyards here in the Barossa be ripped out, often for the more lucrative Shiraz. I firmly believe that Semillon has a strong place in the Barossa and sits within the Barossa DNA along with Shiraz, Grenache, Mataro and the like. Hopefully we can help show what value sits within the old Semillon vineyards the region has. The vineyard sits at 315 metres above sea level and is dry grown on deep alluvial granitic sands and the vineyard run organically with the use of sheep to graze through winter. The Magnolia Semillon has a classic thread of characters that show in each vintage. Beautiful lemon, lemon rind and grapefruit aromas are balanced by subtle oyster shell and saline notes giving a line of minerality and vitality to the wine. This release shows a slightly finer array of aromas including sea spray, oyster shell, fresh lemon, lemon rind, honey, mineral salts and almond meal. The palate driven by mouth filling lemon and lemon zest bursts along with a waxy edge that tightens up to a fine sea spray and mineral line then finishing with a saline note. As with the NV Magnolia Blanc, oysters are a must try with this wine.
