Semillon - What to age?

Sean · Post by **Sean** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 5:23 pm

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Gary W · Post by **Gary W** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 7:32 pm

Well I'm opening a 99 Vat 1 and 99 HVD tomorrow so I'll let you know. The 1998 I'd not open for another 3 or 4 years.
GW

Mahmoud Ali · Post by **Mahmoud Ali** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 8:44 pm

Well, I'm not one to ask. I'll throw any Semillon in the cellar to age.

Years ago, when I was on a drive around, I found that many cellar doors had back vintages for sale. Inevitably the reds were pricy but the Semillons were quite inexpensive. If I recall correctly these older Semillons were always very good, no matter where they were from.

The most memorable was an '88 Woodstock from McLaren Vale. It would have been 13 years old at the time. On opening it seemed flat but after a half-hour or so it opened up and blossomed. Since then I have no fear of cellaring Semillon from places other than the Hunter Valley.

Tasting at Hunter Valley cellar doors in 2007 I thought all the Tyrrells Semillons were excellent and worth cellaring. So were the Semillons from Margans, de Iulius, Tulloch, Keith Tulloch, and Mount Pleasant. I missed Brokenwood but my guess is they would have been good too.

Cheers............Mahmoud

orpheus · Post by **orpheus** » Fri Dec 12, 2008 11:21 pm

Waiters Friend wrote:
orpheus wrote:I had a bottle of the 1986 Lovedale Semillon about 8 years ago and consider it one of the great white wine experiences I have had.

I have to agree, Orpheus. I've worked my way slowly through more than a case of 86 Lovedaloe over the past decade, and it's superb.

Unfortunately, I'm down to the very last one in the cellar, and when that is gone, tears will be shed!

On a different note, I have a little experience of Moss Wood semillon with a few years age. The 1987 drunk in 2000 was past it, but you could still see the quality lurking underneath. Maybe best at 5-6 years. This is not something I would say about too many Margaret River semillons.

Cheers

Allan

I haven't tried the Moss Wood semillon. I'll look out for it.

Daniel Jess · Post by **Daniel Jess** » Sun Dec 14, 2008 8:38 pm

GraemeG wrote:Yes, you want no oak

GG, I'm not sure I completely agree with this. I have had some very well crafted, slightly oaked HV semillons that have spanned a decade very well, producing a groovy decadence like many reknown Chablis.

However, in Australia.. we are still very much learning how to use the subtlety of oak in herbaceous wines (chardonnay aside).

Daryl Douglas · Post by **Daryl Douglas** » Sun Dec 14, 2008 10:11 pm

Daniel Jess wrote:
GraemeG wrote:Yes, you want no oak

GG, I'm not sure I completely agree with this. I have had some very well crafted, slightly oaked HV semillons that have spanned a decade very well, producing a groovy decadence like many reknown Chablis.

However, in Australia.. we are still very much learning how to use the subtlety of oak in herbaceous wines (chardonnay aside).

I had a Keith(?) Tulloch HV wooded sem some years ago that was pretty good.

Sean · Post by **Sean** » Mon Dec 15, 2008 3:16 pm

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Maroon&Blue · Post by **Maroon&Blue** » Mon Dec 15, 2008 7:57 pm

Thanks everyone for your informative feedback.

I find the wine forum is teriffic when you can rely on all you forumites to provide constructive feedback, based on your experiencies in this amazing world of wine!!

Thanks again & Merry Xmas to you all!

Cheers

Mr & Mrs Ronaldo