Page 1 of 1

1997 McWilliams MOUNT PLEASANT Elizabeth Semillon

Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2004 12:08 am
by Attila
Tasting note No.42

A classic from the Hunter. The vintage saw a cool growing season. Grapes were hand picked in February. After a slow fermentation the wine was kept in stainless steel and bottled in July. Very low alcohol at 11% vol. It was first released at AU $12 in January 2001 and will be re-released in early 2006 at about $36 as a museum wine. It's very good, well worth both prices. I find it a lot more succesful than the Lovedale semillon of the same vintage.

Colour deeper gold with some green. Very exciting noble scents of lemon butter and honey. Very clean and pretty on the palate. Now lighter and leaner than it was 2 years ago. After 7 years it still has some fresh zippy characters but the wine is entering a new phase of maturing so those of you who own this should wait at least an other 6 months so it can come out of it's transit state. Medium bodied with amazing and mouthwatering acid on the finish it is very delicious with seafood. Definitely a food wine. Lot's of citrus and lemon mixing with lanolin and honeydew melon. Well balanced and easy to like, will peak in 2008. I must say, I've enjoyed it a lot.

Tasted:April 2004

Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2004 5:14 pm
by Adair
Attila,

Thanks for the tasting note. I only have the one bottle of this in the cellar, a magnum, and did not know when to open it.

My 1996 bottles are now just starting to hit their drinking window but still with many years in front of it.

Adair