2022 Watervale Clare Valley Semillon, Mount Horrocks

• Style: Crisp, mineral-driven white
• Taste: Lemon zest, green apple, grass, creamy mineral core
• Food: Shellfish, white fish, poultry, spicy & Asian, salads
• Occasion: Sunday lunch, date night, aperitivo
• Serve: Bone dry, 13.5% ABV, chilled

In the Glass — Tasting Notes

Pale gold and flinty, this Semillon opens with lemon zest and green apple, followed by freshly cut grass and a whisper of spice from French oak. A creamy, mineral core builds texture without weight, finishing dry as the Outback yet purposeful enough to anchor a proper meal.

The Winery — Mount Horrocks

Stephanie Toole, who acquired Mount Horrocks in 1993, has built her reputation on meticulous vineyard management and uncompromising winemaking. Her Watervale vineyard, planted at 480 metres elevation on limestone soils, delivers the natural acidity and varietal character this vintage demanded. Hand-harvested fruit was barrel-fermented in French oak (40% new) and left on its lees for nine months with regular stirring — labour-intensive work that builds subtle depth without screaming oak. The 2022 vintage, cool and delayed across the region, showcases exactly what Toole's certified organic and biodynamic approach thrives on.

At Your Table — Food Pairing & Serving

At 13.5% alcohol and bone-dry (0.4g/L residual sugar), this white sits naturally alongside roasted chicken, grilled fish, shellfish, or anything green and herbaceous. If you've only encountered Semillon in its unoaked, Hunter Valley incarnation, this Clare Valley expression opens a different conversation — one where the grape's mineral tension meets careful winemaking to create something both immediate and capable of ageing gracefully. Perfect for Sunday lunch, date night, or as an aperitivo when you want texture with restraint. Explore more of our Australia selection and discover why this winemaker's name carries weight in the valley.