Australia 10 whites
Australia 10 whites
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Australia's white wine scene is a hotbed of quality, and very much on the up. The country's foremost wine communicator, Huon Hooke surveys new and established wineries, large and small, to name his top estates. As published in the Decanter July 2012 issue.

Tyrrell’s

Tyrrell’s

Hunter Valley, New South Wales

Since this venerable family winery, under fourthgeneration proprietor Bruce Tyrrell, sold off the Long Flat brand and non-premium assets, and re-focused the portfolio on high-quality Hunter regional wines, Tyrrell’s has soared to a new high. With longstanding chief winemaker Andrew Spinaze calling the shots and running a strong team, quality is outstanding across the board, especially with white wines. The array of Semillons is breathtaking, with Vat 1 (and Museum Releases thereof) at the crown, and single-vineyard bottlings of HVD, Belford, Stevens, plus the marginally eccentric Johnno’s Basket Pressed Semillon on its tail. Chardonnay is also better than ever, with Vat 47 and Belford maintaining their position among the Hunter’s elite – finer, less oaky and less alcoholic than the wines of the past.

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(Image credit: Credit Unknown)

Tyrrell’s, Single-Vineyard HVD Semillon 2006

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(Image credit: Credit Unknown)

Fresh, crisp, youthfully fragrant aromas of freshly squeezed lemon juice. This has stacks of pure, zesty fruit on the palate. Really delicate and yet intense, it fills the mouth, dancing on the tongue and blossoming on the back palate. A truly delicious wine. 19.5pts/20

Price: £21.99 Fells

Drink: 2012–2022

Alc: 10.8%

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Huon Hooke
Huon Hooke
Decanter Magazine, Wine & Food Writer

Huon Hooke is Australia’s leading independent wine writer, based in Sydney, who also judges wine competitions and educates on wine. A journalist first and wine professional second, he has tertiary qualifications in both fields, and has also worked in wineries and wine retailing. He contributes to Gourmet Traveller Wine, the Sydney Morning Herald’s ‘Good Food’ section, ‘Good Weekend’ magazine and Decanter, among other publications. He was co-author of The Penguin Good Australian Wine Guide for 14 years until 2007. In 2012 he launched the web and phone based app, Huonhooke.com. He has won 11 awards for wine writing since 1984 and has published 19 books on wine, including a biography of Penfolds Grange creator Max Schubert.