Silkman Wines is the Hunter Valley label of Liz and Shaun Silkman, with Liz - Halliday Winemaker of the Year for 2025 - as chief winemaker. This single-vineyard Semillon comes from the dry-grown Blackberry vineyard, which Liz has worked with for twenty vintages by 2023. The site is planted on decomposed granite fragments over fine sandy loam, unusual soils that lend the wine drive and pebbly texture. The Hunter is a warm, humid maritime region where Semillon is picked early at low baume to capture zesty citrus fruit and taut natural acidity. Dry-grown, low-vigour vines concentrate the delicate, pristine fruit that defines this classic yet vibrant expression.

Fruit was hand-picked early to preserve the low alcohol and searing natural acidity that underpin ageworthy Hunter Semillon. Grapes were whole-bunch pressed and only the free-run and lightest fractions taken, then cool-fermented in stainless steel to protect the pristine, delicate character of the vineyard. The wine was made bone-dry with no malolactic fermentation and no oak, so nothing masks the lemony fruit and mineral, pebbly texture. It was bottled early to retain freshness, showing zesty citrus and a long, acid-driven core that is delicious young yet built for extended cellaring. Precise picking baume and press figures for the 2023 NEEDS VERIFICATION.