Woodcutter's Semillon

Fashioned with the savoury, food friendly dry whites of Southern France in mind, Woodcutter’s Semillon is the ideal tonic after a long day in the vineyard.

Semillon has always found a natural home in the Barossa. It was one of the early white wine grape varieties planted by the first settlers around 160 years ago and the Mediterranean climate and careful farming has created a heritage of old, low yielding Semillon vineyards.

With the use of an age-old, robust, pink-skinned Madeira clone, found mainly in the Barossa, and maturation in both stainless steel and seasoned French barriques, the Woodcutter’s Semillon is reminiscent of the savoury, food friendly white wines found in the central and southern regions of France.

It is not a typically lemony Semillon, showing more complex aromas of smoked almonds and honeysuckle as well as buttery textures from the natural malolactic fermentation.

Torbreck is the name of a forest near Inverness, Scotland. You’ll find more than a passing nod to the Celts in our wine naming conventions including this tribute to the foresters of this rugged high country.

Current Vintage 2024

The lead up to the 2024 harvest saw timely spring rainfall and calm conditions for flowering and fruit set. A mild to warm summer was idyllic, propelling even growth and fruit development. A warm early summer brought on shiraz showing bright colours and fragrance, persisting for several weeks accelerating to powerful dark fruit and fragrantly spiced characteristics. A cooler break mid-April allowed grenache and mataro vineyards to develop deep colours and firm tannins. With harvest concluding on the 19th of April, we are extremely pleased with the strength and diversity of wines made from the 2024 season.

Current Vintage 2023

The 2023 growing season brought above-average rainfall in winter and spring and a cooler summer. The majority of the harvest took place in the colder months, and most vineyards were not harvested until April, approximately one month later than usual. Cooler seasons can pose several challenges, but through our dedicated commitment to viticulture practices, such as hand pruning and harvesting with careful soil management, the vintage resulted in low-yielding and resilient fruit. The upside, however, to a cool season is far greater, and producers and wine enthusiasts alike hold these seasons in high regard.

Current Vintage 2022

The 2022 vintage was characterised by above average winter rains making up for a dry autumn, leading to full canopies and healthy vines for the harvest. A severe hail storm across some parts of the Valley in late October resulted in lower average yields. The summer was remarkably mild with very few days above 30 degrees. Slow ripening in the cooler conditions made for a gentle and drawn out vintage season, resulting in wines with higher natural acidity, rich colours and fine tannins. The wines from 2022 will reward those patient enough to cellar them away.

Current Vintage 2021

The 2021 summer growing season was mild, with even and cool daily temperatures throughout. Enhanced by good rains provided during the winter and spring of 2020, our vineyards grew wonderful canopies and developed well-formed grape bunches. As a result of this long flavour development cycle in the vineyard, 2021’s signature is wines of high aromatic lift with densely coloured tints and exceptional balance

Current Vintage 2020

Strong winds at flowering at the beginning of the growing season reduced berry and bunch count in many vineyards. The difficult seasonal conditions continued up to harvest- a dry winter and spring were followed by very hot and dry December and January. 2020 was a difficult season to manage for both grower and winemaker with yields much lower than anticipated. Older vineyards with deeper roots remained steadfast under these conditions and produced small volumes of deeply concentrated wines from the lower yields. Semillon and Viognier were the starring whites, with delicate flavours and aromas. While the yields have been small, the overall quality has created deeply coloured and textured wines that resonate their place of origin.

Current Vintage 2019

The growing season was defined by a continuously warm to hot summer with no effective rainfall, wind and hail at flowering, and followed with three major frosts - resulting in an earlier and much smaller harvest than average. These tough conditions produced smaller clusters of intensely dark berries with thick fleshy skins contrasted against brown mature stalks. Whilst yields were down, once these vineyards were fermenting in our cellar the concentration of colour, tannin and aroma of the 2019 vintage was revealed.

Current Vintage 2018

An above average winter rainfall led into a below average spring and summer rainfall, producing small bunches and small berries, leading to a reduced yield. Quality was certainly high, particular amongst our red varieties of Shiraz, Grenache and Mataro. 2018 wines will be remembered for their impressive colour, structure and longevity.

Current Vintage 2017

After a cold and rainy winter in 2016, the Barossa had one of its wettest springs on record, replenishing sub-soil moisture and setting the vineyards up for a healthy summer. Mild conditions during veraison and light rains in January and February, 2017, were followed by an extended warm, dry Indian summer, creating perfect ripening conditions through to April, 2017. An outstanding vintage producing bright, aromatic whites and intense, well-structured reds.