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Tyrrell's 'Lost Block' Semillon

Posted: Thu Nov 23, 2017 8:00 pm
by Mahmoud Ali
2002 Tyrrell's Lost Block' Semillon, Hunter Valley, (10.5%)

With the exception of the bigger brands, there are few Australian semillons available here in Canada. Nevertheless, having tasted a few older semillons in Australia (1986 Elizabeth Museum Release, 1988 Woodstock Semillon), I decided to experiment with a few of these commercial semillons. One of them was a Tyrrell's 'Lost Block' that I bought many years ago. I had forgotten about this wine untill I went looking for a Brokenwood semillon I had brought back from Australia. That was when I spotted the Tyrrell's. It was in a burgundy bottle and the level looked a bit low. So I brought it home and put it in the fridge.

Tonight we baked chicken legs lightly spiced with rosemary and I decided to match it with the Lost Block. Despite it being 15 years old, the colour was a very light yellow, barely showing it's age. The nose exhibited honeyed
, waxy lanolin, and a hint of green bean. The palate was dry and fresh, with lots of acidity and nary a hint of age. It was a bit short in length but very satisfyingly. My partner suspected a sauvignon blanc-based Bordeaux. Overall, a very nice outcome for an inexpensive experiment. Buy semillon, cellar it if you like the style.

For the record, the back label states: "Upon release this wine will be drinking superbly, but it will develop gracefully for a further five years."

Cheers ..................... Mahmoud.

Re: Tyrrell's 'Lost Block' Semillon

Posted: Thu Nov 23, 2017 8:04 pm
by Bobthebuilder
I love it when a bottle shines multiples of years past that recommendation!
Mahmoud, assuming it was cork based on the level?

Re: Tyrrell's 'Lost Block' Semillon

Posted: Thu Nov 23, 2017 8:57 pm
by Mahmoud Ali
Bobthebuilder wrote:I love it when a bottle shines multiples of years past that recommendation!
Mahmoud, assuming it was cork based on the level?
Yes, it was cork stoppered, as is most of my Australian wines. Overall, I have not had any cork problems, even the whites.

Re: Tyrrell's 'Lost Block' Semillon

Posted: Thu Nov 23, 2017 11:16 pm
by sjw_11
That gives me confidence on the 2009 Lost Block I have lost somewhere in the cellar!

Re: Tyrrell's 'Lost Block' Semillon

Posted: Fri Nov 24, 2017 1:54 am
by Waiters Friend
Nice one, Mahmoud.

As many people will know (after many posts on the Mt Pleasant Elizabeth) I've had no shortage of relatively inexpensive Hunter Semillon over the years (with 5-20 years on them) and rarely been disappointed. My consumption slowed in recent years, but I'm becoming inspired to return to Hunter Semillon.

Cheers
Allan