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The Optimist Old Vine Semillon 2017
South Eastern Australia
Bob Berton’s The Optimist is a tasty, ripe fruit white from his estate in Riverina. It uses Semillon – a grape that produces Australia’s most iconic, albeit pricy, Hunter Valley white. This is Bob’s well priced version – brimful, zesty, ripe, lemony.
Beyond the Label
Tasting notes
Ripe and creamy with lemony fruit, lovely balance and length
Aroma
Lemon zest, lightly tropical with a herbaceous lift
Max Allen writes “When Australia becomes a republic, the wine we toast the new president with should be a Semillon.” This grape performs remarkably well Down Under, as shown by the legendary Semillons of Hunter Valley. The Optimist is certainly crafted with these icons in mind, but in a fresher, more accessible style. It’s from Bob Berton, optimist and great winemaker. He began as an accountant, advising on how to run businesses. But he’d never run one. So he joined a winery to get experience and never looked back, setting up on his own in Riverina in 2006. He’s already gained a listing in Halliday’s definitive Australian wine guide. Cool fermented and lees-aged, this is a supremely satisfying white – serve solo or with white meats or ham.
Buyer for Australia
