The 2010 Semillon Sauvignon is a cross-country blend of 65% Hunter Semillon and 35% Marlborough Sauvignon. With intense lemon/lime and grapefruit aromas plus underlying notes of grass and gooseberries, this is a light-bodied, refreshing wine with good concentration and a long straightforward finish. Drink it now to 2012. Established in the early 1990s, Pepper Tree recently came under new ownership and even more recently hired Jim Chatto as chief winemaker in 2007. “The reason I’m in the Hunter is because I love Shiraz and Semillon from the region,” Chatto told me during my visit towards the end of 2010. A bright, well-spoken young winemaker, Chatto’s enthusiasm for this region is infectious and certainly shows in his wines. As the fruits of Chatto’s efforts begin to hit the markets, consumers will start to notice marked improvements in the portfolio and quality of Pepper Tree wines, a winery that makes a wide range of styles and price points. Today Pepper Tree produces about 50,000 cases out of the Hunter, Coonawarra, Wrattonbully and Orange. Though there is a lot of cross-regional blending going on here, the most impressive efforts are the single vineyard Alluvius Hunter Semillon (reviewed last year) and Shirazes from either side of the Tallawanta vineyard in the Hunter (called ‘Tallawanta’ and ‘Coquun’) – all three are extraordinary wines worth seeking out!Pepper Tree currently does not have a USA importer.