Hayes Family SV Semillon Schulz 2021

Hayes Family Wines is a small, family-owned producer based in Stone Well, on the Western Ridge of the Barossa Valley. Founded by Brett Hayes and helmed by winemaker Andrew Seppelt — a Barossa veteran with over 25 years' experience, including a stint as GM and winemaker at Torbreck — the label is built on old, dry-grown vineyards farmed with minimal intervention, letting each site and vintage speak for itself. The Estate Vineyard is Certified Organic and Certified Sustainable, and Hayes has carried a five-star rating in the James Halliday Wine Companion every year since launching.Made from 100% old-vine Madeira clone Semillon, grown in Ebenezer in the Northern Barossa. Hand-picked, hand-sorted and destemmed, this Semillon is crafted in the traditional, classic Barossa style, fermented in neutral vessels to let the fruit and site do the talking.

Light straw in colour, tinged with green — extraordinarily fresh and bright in its youth. The nose is a beautiful spring bouquet of lemon and lime alongside all sorts of field flowers, wonderfully lifted and vibrant. The palate is light, clean and refreshing throughout. A lovely wine to enjoy through the warmer months, but for anyone with good cellaring conditions, this is one that will only continue to improve for many years to come.

The 2023 James Halliday Wine Companion awarded it 91 points, with Dave Brookes noting its pithy citrus fruit and stony, savoury core. Best paired with seafood and salads in its youth, moving toward chicken and pork as it ages.