Tyrrell's Wines

James Halliday Australian Wine Companion 2011 - 30 July 2010

Lost Block is now simply a brand sourced from a number of Hunter Valley vineyards, not the block that escaped picking until late in the season many years ago. Fresh and lively, it has bright citrus lemon fruit; no particular need of cellaring but will gain complexity in bottle.

Sydney Morning Herald - 20 July 2010

TOP AUSSIE WHITE Tyrrell's Lost Block Semillon, Hunter Valley 2009, $19 Great value in an accessible, early-drinking but also cellarable semillon. Bright lemon-juice and grass-hay aromas; jumpy, fresh palate with juicy citrus flavours and mouth-watering freshness. Now to six years. 88/100. Food Braised calamari.

WBM - 30 April 2010

One of the best bargain Sems on the market, this wine clearly learns from the large family of Tyrrell's Semillons above it. It's clean, lively and ultra-light with green apple and fresh lemon fruit, making it perfectly suited as an entree or apertif wine or a partner for lazy summer lunches.

National Liquor News - 28 April 2010

An un-oaked style that exhibits aromas of limes and acidity.

The Week - 02 April 2010

This iconic Hunter winery is "arguably our finest semillon producer". The 2009 is light in alcohol style, "aromatic, vibrant and very drinkable".

Sunday Canberra Times - 28 March 2010

It's a refreshingly low 11 per cent alcohol and features appealing, delicate, lemon-like regional flavour. But instead of the bone-dry austerity often seen in young Hunter semillons, especially those built for decades of cellaring, Lost Block is round and soft and quite juicy, despite the low alcohol.

Australian Doctor - 29 March 2010

If you have tried and dismissed young Hunter semillons due to their lack of upfront character, try this fruit-laden example. It also has a classic rounded palate and generous acidity. A fabulous food wine that can also be happily drunk on its own. 89/100

Illawarra Mercury - 13 March 2010

The iconic Hunter Valley-based Tyrrell's is among the top echelon of Australian wineries and arguably our finest semillon producer. A lighter in alcohol style, aromatic, vibrant and very drinkable with lemon and lime fruit characters, zippy acidity and a nice clean finish.

Central Western Daily - 18 February 2010

Semillon continues to lose ground to Sauvignon Blanc, particularly the stuff from New Zealand. In competition, Tyrrell's have added an extra label to their 2009 Lost Block Semillon declaring "Light, Refreshing, Unoaked, Australian". This will hopefully gain them a few new customers, who tend to look toward Sauvignon Blanc for just these reasons. The 2009 Lost Block Semillon is full of citrus, kiwi fruit and lemon sorbet flavours. It's a great, unoaked, fresh style of wine, with a lower alcohol level than many wines. Semillon is a wine that should not be overlooked when you're browsing the bottleshops. Many are like this one; fresh and crisp, with more complexity than the usual Sauvignon Blanc.

Sunday Telegraph - 03 January 2010

This unoaked Hunter Valley white delivers superb fresh lemon flavours as a youngster and with bottle maturation develops glorious honeyed characters.

The Independent Consumer's Guide to Fine Wines - 30 April 2010

The 2008 Lost Block Semillon has a moderate intensity of lemony fruit and a touch of quince and mange-tout on the nose. Crisp, rasping acidity is balanced by a notable touch of sweetness (6 g/l RS). Clean, medium bodied giving a long finish. Drink now to 2015. Stevens Vineyard Semillon is a single vineyard wine that Chris Tyrrell claims is “a more floral / mineral style – the most Riesling of our Semillons”.

Winestate - 01 September 2009

Good wine - quite fat, with nice lemon curd characters and honeyed musky age starting to develop.

Winewise - 01 March 2009

2007 Tyrrell's Lost Block Semillon. The nose is attractively varietal and regional, with a faint honeyed hint. Just entering its secondary phase, and will improve for a few years yet.

Winestate - 01 January 2009

Subdued nose and palate that are still hibernating but you can see the citrus and apple-like fruit peeking through. Hints of honey and crisp acidity.

Winestate - 28 October 2008

Simple lemon/lime wine with nice aged honey complexity developing. Soft in the mouth, with a lingering finish.

WBM - 30 April 2008

Lost Block presents an affordable way to serve a little of the Tyrrell's Semillon genius responsible for some of the world's greatest examples of the variety. Lost Block is made with the same precision, allowing its zesty lemon and herb-accentuated fruit to speak with full voice.

National Liquor News - 30 May 2008

This wine was named after the 1993 vintage was mitakenly allowed to ripen longer than usual and created this impressive wine. It is fresh, herby and nicely balanced.

Bairnsdale Advertiser - 28 March 2008

The 2007 Lost Block Semillon is a pale lime colour and has clean, soft Semillon fruit characters with citrus sherbet overtones. The wine has a crisp, clean, citrusy palate with a clean, slight minerally finish. Hunter Valley Semillon is renown for its unique properties - in particular the way it drinks as a young wine - a crisp citrus style, and then with bottle age develops golden colour and toasty notes, evocative of oak maturation, when in fact it has been made totally devoid of any oak contact. The concentrated, yet refreshing flavours of this wine make it perfect as a pre-dinner pairing to hors d'oeuvres or as an accompaniment to salads, seafood and poultry dishes. Upon release, this wine will be drinking superbly, but will develop gracefully for a further five years.

Winestate - 18 February 2008

Projects lemon blossom fragrances and has perfectly integrated melon and lemon flavours - a bit light now but it's a baby; give it five years or so.

Winestate - 01 December 2007

Zesty varietal aromas and elegant flavours. Good drinking now or cellar for future enjoyment.

Liquor Watch - 01 October 2007

World renowed for their semillon Tyrrell's Wines have released two that are a must for every retailers fridge this summer. The 2007 Lost Block Semillon is medium bodied, un-oaked exhibiting citrus aromas. The palage has cleansing acidity that balance the fruit flavours. The 2003 Single Vineyard Stevens Semillon has won many accolades with its complex mineral and flint aromas combined with a palate that displays vibrant acidity and a tangy finish.

Sun Herald - 02 December 2007

Tyrrell's is known for its high-quality semillons. This one is great value and very drinkable. It's zesty, vibrant and has oodles of lemon characters. Match it with Thai green curry.

The Weekend Australian - 10 November 2007

An absurdly inexpensive Semillon, reflecting the embarrassment of riches in the Tyrrell's stable these days. I am happy working my way through a case of the '96 of this. This has all the fruit typical of the '07 vintage without sacrificing finesse: fine, long, lemony fruit plus crisp acidity. Rating: 93 points

Australian Table - 01 April 2006

”Hunter Semillon is one of the best buys in Aussie wine and Tyrrell’s provides both quality and value at all levels. The Lost Block Semillon drinks well now and is a great match for a mussel stew.”

Winestate Magazine - 01 March 2006

“The lively aromas show crisp lemon fruits in the company of stalky, herbal notes. Light and tangy on the palate with pretty fruit tingle flavours. “Exceptional balance!” enthused one judge.”

Winestate Magazine - 01 March 2006

“The lively aromas show crisp lemon fruits in the company of stalky, herbal notes. Light and tangy on the palate with pretty fruit tingle flavours. “Exceptional balance!” enthused one judge.”

Uncorked, The Sun-Herald - 04 June 2006

WHITE WINES $15 - $25 “A young, fresh unoaked Semillon with aromas of freshly cut grass and lemon peel on the nose. Lees contact gives the palate richness and character, with zesty acidity.” Food: Chicken stuffed with preserved lemon 5 STARS

Australian Gourmet Traveller Wine - 01 January 2006

“Crisp salad leaves, citrus zest nose; light and tangy in the mouth with low alcohol and very fine structure. Dry, clean, beautifully balanced finish. Drink or cellar.” 91 points 4 stars

Launceston Examiner - 24 January 2007

“By all accounts, 2005 looks like being a great vintage in the Hunter Valley. This lively youngster found its way into James Halliday’s Top 100 recently, and provides smart drinking as well as cellaring potential. It offers fragrant mineral and lemon blossom aromas, the palate being a masterly exercise in welding delicacy and abundant flavour, and above all else, length.”

Winestate Magazine - 01 December 2005

"Excellent focus and intensity of varietal aromas and flavours in this pale straw green wine. The palate is packed with lime and lemon sherbet characters and lingers on and on." 5 stars

Good Living, Sydney Morning Herald - 20 September 2005

“Clean, crisp salady herbal aromas; light, fresh zesty; vine fine in the mouth.” Food Match: Grilled Flathead

Who Weekly - 16 January 2006

“Tyrrell’s is Australia’s Semillon specialist and this is one of the great bargains in its extensive collection. Low alcohol, low price, but plenty of zesty citrus flavours, with a sherbety zing and clean finish. Drink it now if you like it fresh, keep it five years if you prefer the buttery, nutty flavours of aged Semillon.”

The Weekend Australian - 19 November 2005

“Tyrrell’s is unchallenged as Australia’s foremost Semillon specialist, with at least five different wines of varying age available at any given time and all great value. This wine offers fragrant mineral and lemon-blossom aromas, the palate a masterly exercise in welding delicacy with abundant flavour and, above all else, length.” Drink: Now – 2020 Region: Hunter Valley, NSW 95 points