Sémillon 1850 Ancestor Vine 2019

CIRILLO ESTATE WINES

Sémillon 1850 Ancestor Vine
2019

Country
Australia
Regulated designation
Geographical Indication (GI)
Region
South Australia
Subregion
Barossa, Barossa Valley
Varietal(s)
Sémillon 100 %
Alcohol percentage
10.5%
Colour
White
Sugar
Dry
Producer's website
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About this winery

Hailing from the sun baked southern Italian region of Calabria, Vincent Cirillo immigrated to South Australia in 1946 with over 400 years of wine making history in the family spanning 9 generations. The Barossa Valley became home in 1842, along with the acquisition of some remarkable vineyards planted in 1848, making them of some of the very first Barossa Valley vines ever planted. These parcels of Grenache and Semillon are now recognised as the oldest surviving and producing examples of these...

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Product notes

The Cirillo 1850 Semillon is harvested entirely of a single vineyard in the Light Pass region in the Barossa Valley believed to be the oldest Semillon (Madeira) vineyard in the world. It is one of the few remaining Madeira vineyards left in Australia. This is why it is released under the Semillon varietal name, as opposed to the Madeira region.

Tasting notes

Pale green and yellow in colour, with aromas of lifted lemongrass with some clean mineral characters. Fruit is dominant on the palate with a lean, light structure and driven mineral finish.

Press reviews

Wine Advocate

- 94 points -

September 2023 (Vintage 2019)

The tasting of this 2019 Ancestor Vine Semillon is good because the last time I saw it was from tank. Today, the nose leads with lemongrass and lime zest, lemon oil and green leaf/cilantro. In the mouth, the wine is taut and littered with hay/straw. It's open-weave and spicy, a beauty. It was bottled unfiltered and is clear in the glass. The vineyard here was planted in 1848, and the vines are still producing today. It's a very impressive and humbling experience to walk among those old vines. 10.5% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.

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Wine Advocate

- 91 points -

July 2022 (Vintage 2018)

The 2018 Ancestor Vine Semillon was tank fermented and matured on its lees. It is resplendent with bison grass, almond leaf, preserved lemon and cracked barley and feels slightly broad (via the lees) through the finish. At 10.5% alcohol, this is light and textural, but thanks to the old vines, it has poise and presence too. It was bottled after two years' maturation and has eons left to go.

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