Bethany Semillon 2006

NOTES

Johann Gottlob Schrapel and his family arrived in South Australia from Silesia on the ship “George Washington” in 1844, just eight years after the colony was settled. Like many of their fellow Germanic migrants they made their way by ox cart to Bethany, the Barossa Valley’s first settlement, where they established a home and cleared the land to grow crops and graze animals. The Schrapel’s planted their first vineyard in 1852 from cuttings carefully nursed from Europe. A wine cellar was also built, but despite Johann’s reputation as an early colonial winemaker, the family concentrated on grape growing rather than winemaking for the next four generations.

More than a century later in 1981, Johann’s fifth generation descendants, brothers Geoff and Robert Schrapel, established Bethany Wines in a quarry, where the pioneers had hewn stone for their homes, high in the Barossa Ranges overlooking the family’s vineyards and the historic village of Bethany.

TASTING NOTES

The 45 year old Semillon vines have provided exceptional qualities to this wine. The colour is bright gold whilst the aroma is of lemon and honey. But it is in the palate the wine's excellence shows out! The mouthfeel is soft, yet filled with rich, complex varietal flavours and the long, nutty, satisfying finish displays the minimal oak influence from discreet barrel fermentation to perfection. It has tons of flavour and while very pleasant when young it will certainly improve with careful cellaring, reaching its peak of flavour and complexity some three to five years from vintage. It may be enjoyed with sushi and sashimi - we found it quite delightful with whole grilled flounder.