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A fine, approachable wine, with elements of cut grass and some juicy tropical fruits across the mid-palate. Screwcap. 12.5° alc.
Rating 89 Points To 2009
James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion 2009
This lemon-grassy Margaret River Semillon has been given some barrel work in the winery, building complexity around savoury lemon fruits. The palate texture is elegant, yet full, wrapped around lemon zest flavours and some nutty savoury notes to close. 94 Points
WBM 100, Semillon tasting, Nick Stock, July 2008
The masked 28-wine theme tastings used to select the Western Suburbs Weekly wine recommendations give an excellent snapshot or perspective on that variety or region at the time.
In this instance, the 28 semillons tasted recently brought forward wines of far greater quality and consistency than expected.
Without the nation’s acknowledged greatest Semillons from the Hunter valley Tyrell family, in a totally masked line up, the almost equally highly regarded and prolific gold medal and trophy winning McWilliam’s Mt Pleasant Lovedale release – the 2006, (17.9pts and RRP $38.40) rose to the top but was matched by the quite differently styled 2006 Juniper Estate Margaret River Semillon.
With its significant (yet still balanced) high quality oak, this wine still needs until 2009 to integrate this and to begin showing at its best and it will be marvelous until at least 2014.
The 2006 Juniper Estate Semillon shows marvelous Semillon fruit of real length and balance and the crisp edges point to the high acidity enveloped or hidden by the dense, high quality and fine knit fruit.
The texture of the oak and fruit combination is superb and the finish and aftertaste are, once again, clean and marvelous.
Semillon doesn’t sell well and at this almost ridiculously cheap price for the quality (when had with pastas, even with creamy sauces, veal, chicken or grilled fish) this is just the wine to reacquaint you with semillon’s great appeal and versatility.
This was the Semillon trophy winner at the most recent Margaret River wine show.
Tasted twice for 17.9pts and 18.1pts in the past two months and the RRP is $25. (Fantastic value)
John Jens, Western Suburbs Weekly – Wine, 10 June 2008
A more delicate example of the style than in previous years, probably a product of this very cool vintage in Margaret River. Delicate lemony fruit smells with subtle oak adding complexity. The acid is fine and the flavour intense and persistent. Very attractive, and I will be interested to see if this is intentionally a new style, or simply a product of vintage. 93/100
Ray Jordan, Ray Jordan’s Guide to WA Wine 2007/8
Well this is one of the most attractive dry whites to have passed my lips in quite a while, so much so that I feel compelled to immediately put finger to keyboard. I was supposed to be tasting but I couldn’t stop drinking the bugger, so if you like a white Bordeaux style then I’d be all over this like a fat kid on a Lime Spider. Only 317 dozen made.
It’s not especially fruity and does not smell specifically of one thing or another, it’s more vinous and dry whitey than anything else, but you could say citrus, apple, dried herbs and vanilla oak all play a part in the mix. On the palate dry but creamy with delightful fine acidity and flavours of lime, vanilla and sweet green peas. It’s gentle and balanced throughout and finishes with a little flinty grip. A delightful wine from start to finish.
Rated : 94 Points
Tasted : May 08
Alcohol : 12.5%
Price : $22
Closure : Screwcap
Drink : 2008 - 2014
Source : Winery Sample
Gary Walsh , http://www.winorama.com.au May 2008
This was the top wine in this bracket, showing beautiful cedary oak, fresh fruit and a youthful palate with a very long flavoursome finish. Elegant and long, it is a great example of the oaked Margaret River style of Semillon as typified by Moss Wood and Cullen. It should repay cellaring but is delicious to drink now at two years of age. Awarded: Gold (18.5). Best Varietal.
Scoop Magazine, Spring Fling, Spring 2008 issue
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