Presenting our 2025 White Releases
Each year I look forward to sharing our new white releases with you, and 2025 has certainly given us plenty to be excited about. After the small yields of 2024, this vintage has delivered fruit of exceptional quality and character across all our Semillon vineyards. From the moment budburst arrived, conditions were near textbook. A relatively dry season, followed by a few nervy January storms, ultimately gave way to beautifully balanced fruit with purity, vibrancy, and that all-important natural acidity that defines great Hunter Semillon.
Our flagship Braemore has once again reminded me why it’s considered one of the Hunter’s most celebrated sites. Crops were generous, ripening evenly, and the resulting wine is back to a more classic Braemore shape. Impeccable purity, concentration, and tightly wound energy. I can’t help but ask myself: is it possible this vintage could rival the great 2013 Braemore? Time will tell, but I’ll be backing this wine for the long haul in the cellar. For those who want to see just how this vineyard sings with time, I’d encourage you to revisit our 2019 Cellar Reserve Braemore Semillon, a shining example of the transformation from youthful zest to layered complexity. Side by side with the 2025 release, it’s a masterclass in why Braemore has earned its reputation.
The 2019 also recently scored 96 Points with Toni Paterson MW in the latest edition of the Halliday Wine Companion.
It’s also fantastic to see The O.C. back in the lineup this year. After being pillaged by wingless grasshoppers in 2024, the vineyard has bounced back superbly. This vintage has given us fruit of pristine character, and in the winery, whole-bunch pressing and gentle handling have resulted in a wine that is fine-boned, crystalline, and utterly true to its single-vineyard origins. It feels like a triumphant return, and I think those who’ve been waiting will be more than happy.
Fordwich Hill, with its red volcanic clays, has offered something entirely different in expression. The 2025 wine shows wonderful drive and depth—lime and citrus fruits carried with intensity, with a touch more weight across the mid-palate. It’s an evocative counterpoint to the Braemore, a reminder of how dramatically vineyard site defines style in the Hunter.
The Like a Version project has continued to be a playground for reimagining Braemore fruit, and this year Dan's probably produced the most interesting edition yet.
And finally, Vat 32 has once again proven how beautifully Semillon and Chardonnay can work together. The 2025 blend has woven Semillon’s freshness seamlessly with Chardonnay’s generosity. The two varietals came together beautifully this year, giving us a wine that’s both refreshing and layered. Silken creamy texture supporting a core of yuzu citrus, Spanish melon, star and yellow dragonfruit notes. It’s a wine for those who enjoy complexity without losing elegance.
This vintage has given us a suite of whites that I’m incredibly proud of. From the triumphant return of The O.C. to the classic strength of Braemore, there’s something here for every palate. More importantly, 2025 reinforces the Hunter Valley’s rightful place as one of the world’s great Semillon regions. I can’t wait for you to taste them.
Cheers,
Thommo
