2025 Halliday Top Rated

Best semillon in Australia 2025

By The Tasting Team

The Silkman Wines Single Vineyard Blackberry Semillon 2023 has been named the best sauvignon blanc in Australia.

The Halliday Wine Companion Awards celebrate the best wines in Australia. Below you'll find Australia's top semillon wines, along with the wine ratings awarded by the Tasting Team.

Semillon is grown in many Australian regions, but if you ever want evidence of how magnificently it performs in the Hunter Valley, just take a look at this list. The Hunter Valley style is well established and celebrated but the best examples this year showed genuine fruit flavour, and often texture, too, even in their absolute infancy. Interestingly, the two highest rated wines in this category were made by the same person (Liz Silkman). Little wonder she is the winner of our Winemaker of the Year.

2025 Best Semillon of the Year in Australia

Silkman Wines Single Vineyard Blackberry Semillon 2023, Hunter Valley

98 points | Price when tasted $60


Silkman Wines Single Vineyard Blackberry Semillon 2023, Hunter Valley

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2023 is the 20th year that Liz Silkman has worked with the dry-grown Blackberry vineyard, planted on decomposed granite fragments and fine sandy loam. So, there is no surprise that this wine is a triumph. Astute winemaking allows the pristine, delicate nature of the fruit to shine. Zesty lemony aromas introduce a long, focused palate bursting with fresh citrus flavours. It is the perfect example of restrained power, with the core based on acidity. It is utterly gorgeous now, though it is poised for greatness with cellaring. – Toni Paterson MW

Learn more about semillon.

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The 2025 Halliday Wine Companion is available now. Secure your copy of Australia's most comprehensive wine guide at all good bookstores.

This is an edited extract from the 2025 Halliday Wine Companion, with reviews by James Halliday, Campbell Mattinson, Dave Brookes, Jane Faulkner, Jeni Port, Marcus Ellis, Mike Bennie, Philip Rich, Shanteh Wale and Toni Paterson MW. Cover art by Vera Babida.


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