Hunter Valley. Semillon. McGuigan. Enough Said.

Ok, maybe not quite enough said (is a blog with only headlines still a blog?).  The Hunter Valley is practically synonymous with Semillon and thankfully many more people are discovering the incredible, deep, rich wines this grape can produce.  Leading the way is winemaker Neil McGuigan with his McGuigan Bin 9000 Semillon.

Neil recently visited London to accept the IWSC (International Wine & Spirit Competition) award for ‘International Winemaker of the Year 2011′, an award he also won in 2009.  While here, he hosted a lunch to showcase a sensational vertical tasting of 7 recent vintages – from the 1997 to the 2011 – every single one of which (except 2011) won Gold Medals and ‘Best in Class’ awards from the IWSC.  The 2006 also won the top prize of ‘International Semillon Trophy 2011′.

It’s no wonder they are such a darling of the awards, they are beautiful wines.  Starting with the 1997, it was easy to see just how well these wines are made to age.  This wine was still so youthful with energizing acidity on the finish.  The palate was rich, almost Burgundian, coming purely from age as there isn’t a hint of oak in this wine, so elegant and impressive.

As we continued through each vintage, it was obvious just how different each one was, just like siblings with similar traits but individual character all their own.  The 03 is zesty and crisp with hay-like notes; the 04, from a very difficult vintage, is bursting with fruit and softer acidity; the 05 resembles an Eden Valley Riesling with its freshness and minerality; the 06 (the big award winner) is alluring and interesting and is going to be an absolute blockbuster with a few more years of age; the aromas of the 07 are extravagant and enticing and the palate exudes a touch of toastiness; finally the baby of the group, the 2011, is like sherbet in a glass, not too dissimilar to a refreshing Sauvignon, but with the classic, round, palate weight of Semillon.

The one thing that struck me more than anything else was the length of these wines.  Each one lingered and endured long into subsequent conversations as a gentle and genial reminder that something rather special was going on.

In the UK, McGuigan Wines are available at Waitrose where the ‘Shortlist’ range retails for £14.95 and the spicy ‘Hand Made’ Shiraz (the perfect wine for Christmas Day) is £25.

There’s Always Time for Wine!

Tara – Wine Passionista