The Wine: Askerne Semillon 2021, Hawke's Bay RRP from $23.99 

A perfect bouquet of waxy citrus peel and yellow flowers, apple and peach. A seam of dry stone minerality and a gentle fruit spice quality adds complexity and charm. A dry wine with a satin-cream touch on the palate followed by flavours of tree and citrus fruits, quince and a developing complexity.  

Lanolin – waxy oily smell and taste- very positive in wine, but zero to do with lanolin oil from woolly animals like sheep. 

This wine has great integrity for several days in the fridge and will age well in the cellar also. 

The Season: 2025 in Hawkes Bay has the potential to be one the better vintages for most varieties cultivated. A warm and dry Spring led to some early flowering delivering an early harvest and some significant volume. Overall the fruit quality was high and from what I have tasted so far from producers has ranged from very good to down-right outstanding. 

The food match: With a young Semillon – oysters can work well, I prefer to eat sushi or prawn dishes with rice. Chicken and Pork dishes tend to work also, the real trick is aim for dishes that have a salt lick about them and definitely very low to no spice.  

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