Mount Pleasant Elizabeth Semillon 2003

[Waiters Friend]

G'day

I've posted on many vintages of this wine over the years, but a quick search of the 'search' function reveals that I haven't posted on the 2003 for a few years, if at all. Let's rectify this.

2003 was the first vintage of this wine (which I have been drinking regularly since about 1987) that was mercifully under screwcap (some 2002 was also under cap but I believe all of the 2003 was under screwcap). I had some shocking cork variation / taint / oxidation with vintages from late 1990s to 2002.

Bright gold in colour, clear and transparent. Delicious and expressive nose of lemon pith, honey, and buttered toast. The palate is really singing, though - slightly tart lemon cordial, a touch of talc, zingy acid with an overall fullness / roundness as a result of the flavour development.

Refreshing and complex all in one mouthful. I am very pleasantly surprised by how well these are holding up, at 13 years of age. Vive La Stelvin!

Cheers
Allan

[ufo]

It must be pure luck. Wine will never age under Stelvin properly.

[Waiters Friend]

An update, nearly a year on from my last note.

Colour has not shifted - still bright gold. Still lots of lemon and honey, although the toast has diminished somewhat. Lemon cordial, pith and acid are all still in evidence, and the wine is mouthwateringly refreshing.

Possibly not getting a lot better, but will probably hold for years.

Cheers
Allan

[Ian S]

Hi Allan
Now here's the big question from the screwcap *doubters - has the wine developed with a similar profile to a **cork-sealed wine?

regards
Ian
* Not me, two cork ruined wines last weekend reminded me just how much wine gets ruined by that archaic seal.
** i.e. one that works as it should do, not the sub-standard & TCA infected ones

[Rocky]

I had a Mount Pleasant Elizabeth Semillon 2001 under cork recently - awful. All fruit had been stripped and there was a subdued taste of yuk.

Why oh why do I buy cork.

[Waiters Friend]

Now we delve into the realms of the "what if's".

Screwcap? for my money, more reliable, and slower, more consistent ageing. Is the rate similar? Possibly not, I suspect the screwcap Elizabeths will go longer than the cork versions, and without the risk factor.

I have just put my one and only screwcap 2002 Elizabeth into the fridge. It's been a while since I drank the cork version, but I suspect all of the attributes I expect from a screwcap (not corked, for a start, and lighter colour, more gradual development) will show themselves.

I'll post a TN on the wine when I open it. Especially for Ian S.

Cheers

Allan

[Ian S]

Much appreciated Allan
The reasoning behind the question, is that some argue that screwcap and cork sealed wines evolve differently, rather than (what I choose to believe in this contentious field) that assuming the SO2 dosage was appropriate, a screwcapped wine is likely to emerge pretty similar to a good cork sealed wine.

[Bobthebuilder]

I had a Mount Pleasant Elizabeth Semillon 2001 under cork recently - awful. All fruit had been stripped and there was a subdued taste of yuk.

Why oh why do I buy cork.

opened one last night
quick taste then straight down the sink
same as the bottle opened a week previously
one left, might try it in the next few days
with a back up under screwcap waiting right behind it

[RockyRed]

I used to be a big fan of Australian Rieslings but cannot tolerate the acidity any more (in my dotage) so about a year ago I decided to put a few of these (2012) down for a few years and see if they soften up a bit. I enjoy some development on my whites.
I previously tried the same thing with a McWilliams Hanwood Verdelho 2010 and it just got more acid which apparently is a characteristic of the variety, of which I was unaware.