2023 *Lessons* Sémillon

Geelong VIC

After making wine with this fruit since 2020, I knew it was time to make wine on the vine. This was the year I took the final step to becoming a custodian, my first vintage as a vigneron. We bought a tractor, I killed a deadly snake and we resurrected this part of the block after it lying dormant for five years. Thanks to the advice of Mark Walpole, we hard pruned and opened the canopy, honing the wine from hard edged jalapeño to something more supple and open knit. Sémillon has taught me harder lessons than any other variety. Despite this, the greatest gift a winemaker can have is to be able to influence how the grapes grow, so that when the bring them home to the winery the creation comes full circle.