Description
Mount Horrocks Wines is operated by proprietor/winemaker Stephanie Toole, who restricts production to approximately 3,500 cases per annum in order to achieve her aims of quality and single vineyard expression. All three estate-owned Clare Valley vineyards, totalling ten hectares, are ‘A certified’ by Australian Certified Organic (ACO). James Halliday says “Stephanie Toole has never deviated from the pursuit of excellence in the vineyard and winery. She has three vineyard sites in the Clare Valley, each managed using natural farming and organic practices. The attention to detail and refusal to cut corners is obvious in all her wines. 5 Red Star Winery” Stephanie carefully crafts “essentially hand-made food wines with emphasis on structure as well as generous fruit flavours”. Only estate grown grapes are used and these are hand-picked and gently handled under conditions that ensure the varietal and site-specific flavours in the resultant wine, as well as its organic status, are retained. As no finings have been found necessary the wines are all suitable for vegans and vegetarians. Only the finest French oak barriques are used for those wines spending time in barrel.
Just a few hundred metres to the north east of the estate riesling vineyard lies the Mount Horrocks planting of semillon. The Mount Horrocks Semillon Vineyard is on distinctly weaker, rocky soil. The vines struggle even in a ‘normal’ season. According to Stephanie, semillon vines need to be challenged if a wine with depth of flavour (as is the case here) is to be achieved. Mount Horrocks Semillon demonstrates long lingering lemon and spice flavours complemented by creamy lees complexity and a touch of French oak.
About this wine: Light, bright yellow-gold colour. On the nose, appealing granny smith apple, lemon, subtle grassy aromas with spice notes and restrained oak. It’s generously flavoured yet crisp and refreshing, with supple, vibrant fruit and lovely texture and mouthfeel enhanced through barrel fermentation and maturation.
region notes.
95 points, Nick Ryan’s Top 100 Australian Wines 2025, The Australian. “Even most Hunter Valley winemakers admit it takes a good deal of confidence to sell semillon. But Stephanie Toole makes it in Clare, where semillon is not even the best white in the region. It may be an ever decreasing field, but that field could multiply 100 times and Toole would still hold the crown. This is a wine of wax and pith, green apple, snow pea and flint. The discreet cares of oak. One of Australia’s best.”
94 Points, Mike Bennie, Halliday Wine Companion “This is out of the box in the best sense. Quite unctuous, medium-weight texture, lanolin grease and slide, some honeyed notes, sea spray and brine, then the more classic characters of lime, lemon and green apple. It’s generous and riper than expected for the variety but, in that, complex, layered and just darn lovely. Lots of personality, too. Drink in youth.”
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