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Margaret River Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2011
Tasting Note
A lively blend this is a Caprioska filled with mixed passionfruit on fresh sweet snap peas. Generously shaken it will show a leg of lychee and nectar while remaining firmed by a lime peel acid. Starting the meet boisterously its restrained palate shows something deeper in thought. With a touch of oak and natural ferment this wine is seductive to the senses yet challenging to the mind.
The Season
With El Nino has come a progressively reduced rainfall. Spring has been a little wetter and summer has had more temperature extremes. In 2009 spring was again wet and blustery and shaping to be something like 2008. But a heat spike in January 2010 with a week of 35 degree+ brought whites into line quickly and within an instant they were coming off earlier than average. Reds drew out as things cooled off heading into March. Patience to get tannin ripeness in reds proved dividends though an early break to the season with rainfall had us on the edge of our seats.
Vinyards
For the first time everything came from the family's' vineyards this year. Semillon came from the in-laws on the east side of town, sauvignon blanc from the Burnside vineyard and a little bit of both varieties from the Calgardup Brook vineyard. This gave an eclectic mixture of fruit that shows firmly in the bottle.
Vinification
The blend is slightly different 56% semillon and 44% sauvignon blanc. Again things are trademark fresh and simple with neutral yeast inoculated into a stainless steel vessel for a cool ferment. A small tweak this year was a 5% portion of each variety going into new oak for a natural ferment and 5 months on lees. This was blended into tank prior to stability and bottling. The result; a very flamboyant blend of all things expressive and a wine we are sure will be enjoyed.
Alc 12.5%
pH 3.18
TA 6.4
Acidity Residual sugar 3.0
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