Just as there are fashions in food, clothes, shoes and hairstyles, so there are fashions in wine as well. Some in the wine industry view Semillon as having all the curious appeal of ‘a garden gnome, or…jellied eels’ and others praise it’s versatility and ability to pair with foods we love, like seafood. Who to trust? Is Semillon really the ugly ducking some would have us believe?
If the name seems familiar, its probably because you’ve seen Semillon used to blend with Sauvignon Blanc in bright and cheery easy drinking wines readily available in most Australian bottle-o’s. More than just a curiousity, others see Hunter Valley Semillon as ‘Australia’s gift to the world’. Why so divisive? And ultimately, is it safe to punt your own money on a bottle or two?
This month’s SwirlSniffSpit tasting brings together a dozen expressions of Semillon, demonstrating its versatility and showing why it should be in your fridge this summer. Join us at Era on Tuesday 18 November and RSVP by replying on Twitter http://twitter.com/SwirlSniffSpit
Bracket 1 – Sparkling
Bimbadgen Estate NV Sparkling, Hunter Valley @bimbadgen
St Agouant 1999 Brut Blanc de Blanc, Bordeaux @TheTruffleManOz
Bracket 2 – Young Semillon
Scarborough Wine Green Label Semillon 2011, Hunter Valley @ScarboroughWine
Murray Street Vineyards Semillon 2010, Barossa Valley @MSVWine
Bracket 3 – South Burnet, Queensland
Clovely Estate Left Field Semillon 2010 @ClovelyWine
Barambah Estate Semillon 2008 @BarambahWines
Bracket 4 – Aged Semillon
Meerea Park 2005 Alexander Munro Semillon, Hunter Valley @MeereaPark
Peter Lehmann Wines Margaret Semillon 2005, Barossa Valley @PLWines
Bracket 5 – Off-Dry & Barrel Fermented
Thomas Wines 6 Degrees Semillon 2010, Hunter Valley @ThomasWines
Juniper Estate Semillon 2009, Margaret River
Bracket 6 – Dessert Wines
De Bortoli Wines Black Noble @DeBortoliWines
Punt Road Botrytis Semillon 2010, Yarra Valley @PuntRdWines
SwirlSniffSpit is a free, guided and informal tasting held at Era Bistro on the 3rd Tuesday of each month. For more information visit www.swirlsniffspit.com