A tasting group I am involved with - Swirl, Sniff, Spit - organised a Semillon tasting that sought to demonstrate the diversity of styles that can be found with the Semillon grape. Brief tasting notes that follow represent the range of wines shown on the night.
Bracket 1 - Sparkling
Bimbadgen, Hunter Valley, NV
Ripe, citrus fresh, easy going ability to drink now. Good aromatics, with some tang. A quaffer - get it down you.
St Agouant, 1999 'Blanc des Blancs'
Over ten years on lees gives the wine smooth and creamy texture and mouthfeel, Balanced with good acid structure and fine aroma.
Bracket 2 - Young Semillon
Murray Street Vineyards Semillon 2010
Excellent value for $20. Showing some developmental attributes, but this was all about fresh citrus and lemon curd on the night. Wanted a plate of calamari to accompany this. Suspect it has some life ahead of it too.
Scarborough Wine Green Label
Good value too. Made more in a 'savvy' style, exhibiting youthful and fresh attributes. Herbaceous, grassy and a hint of lime. Crisp 'n' crunchy too.
Bracket 3 - South Burnet, QLD
Barambah First Grid 2008
Offered to Swirl, Sniff, Spit on the understanding that it was in the 'hole' and needed some further developmental time to show its best. A slight slatey note with some pickle characters and asparagus.
Clovely Estate Left Field Semillon 2006
Showing lovely toasty and age characters as befits the age. Good length and honeyed notes. Top drawer and a perfect segue to Bracket 4.
Bracket 4 - Aged Semillon
Meerea Park Alexander Munro 2005
Layered, complex. Still showing citrus toward the back end and a creaminess through the middle. Plenty in reserve: you think the wine is done when it kicks into 2nd gear. Had me in raptures on the night. Table wine of the night for me.
Peter Lehmann Margaret 2005
More bling than a rude boy rap artist this wine. Classic Barossa warmer climate profile. Still showing some texture and fruit in its profile. Classy and elegant.
Bracket 5 - Off-Dry and Barrel Ferment
Thomas Wines 6 Degrees Semillon
Enticingly aromatic and shows its good dose of extra sugar in an approachable way. Nice shape approaching its conclusion. Reminiscent of crushed 'love hearts' for those familiar with those sweets/ lollies.
Juniper Estate Semillon 2008
Barrel fermentation provides interesting aromatics and a touch of funk from some indigenous yeasts. Toasty, a touch of herb. The palate comes across a bit flinty, with a hint of mineral. More than one comment on the night that there were some similarities to Chardonnay.
Bracket 6 - Stickie & Sweeties
Punt Road Venda 2010 Botrytis Semillon
Honeyed aromas, delicate citrus and mandarin. Lovely unctuous texture in the mouth. Where's the cheese?
De Bortoli Black Noble
Basically Noble One from a Solera. A barrique of Noble One is held back each year and added into the Solera. Started out in 1979, average age of 18 years. Since 2003 has been 100% Semillon (prior to that some PX was included). Caramelised toffee, raisins, coffee, chocolate. Need I say more? I don't do Xmas pud - this will be my liquid substitute this year.
