Mcwilliams Mount Pleasant Elizabeth Semillon 2010 (Hunter Valley, NSW)
11.5%alc, Screwcap, $20 (or much less on special)
Source: Sample
www.mcwilliams.com.au
I'm not sure what the strategy is here exactly, but 'Lizzy' now comes out as a young wine, with this Semillon already out in the marketplace. I'm guessing it helps the cashflow (releasing it early) but, in terms of drinking pleasure, it's a backward move, for this doesn't taste anything like the classic trophy winners that the label is renowned for (though that might just be the vintage).
In the glass this Semillon is green and light, looking every bit the current vintage white wine that it is. It smells of green fruit, a splash of citrus and then some honeyed generosity. Warm year wine. The qualm, for mine, is the palate, which just doesn't quite have the drive or the acid structure that you would expect for a young Lizzy. It's broadish and slightly rounded stuff, a wine built in the low alcohol Hunter Semillon mould, but without quite enough length or heart to be convincing.
All in all it's still a fair wine, still refreshing and still drinkable, but it just seems a bit lacking. Could the normal 4 years of bottle age have sorted it out into something good? Maybe. Is it a top Lizzy? No. 16.7/89
Thursday, November 4, 2010
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2009/10 WCA Wine Journalism 'Young Gun; Wine Judge; Gourmet Traveller WINE and Breathe Hunter Valley magazine contributor; LattéLife & The Retiree columnist; National Liquor News tasting panellist and Chablis lover who fell into the liquor industry chiefly to buy cheap beer.
My score looks quite high after rereading the rather lukewarm note. Interesting.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree. I saw quite a few of the top Hunter Semillons at the recent Melbourne Wine Show. One of the strategies for ageing potential is high Sulpher, and that coupled with being bottled in screw cap now has made the wines pretty much undrinkable when young. Although we did see quite an old one under cork that looked like it was bottled yesterday. It worries me that they will take a ridiculously long time to get some good bottle age under screw cap. Perhaps they need to make two styles?
ReplyDeleteChatting to the McWilliams guys at the Brissy GFWS yesterday, he indicated that 'Lizzy' is now a two brand strategy. It is released as a young wine and also nodded toward 10% Sauv included. The traditional 'aged' Lizzy is also intended to be released too.
ReplyDeleteQuite a confusing strategy if you ask me. There are some differences in the packaging to aid the consumer, but whether your average punter in [insert name of whichever bottle shop] will pick this up is anyone's guess.
First Phillip goes multi regional and now Lizzy includes some Sauvignon Blanc! Sacrilege...
ReplyDeletethat is sacrilege. a dangerous ploy, playing with labels as famous as those..
ReplyDeleteI gave it 86/87 - wasn't impressed. Doesn't surprise me that there's SB in this. The nose says it pretty clearly.
ReplyDeleteI notice that the '07 Rosehill has no distinct McWilliams labelling while the Elizabeth '10 does.
MichaelC
Thin Lizzy...what a shame!
ReplyDeleteTC
was just at the McWilliams cellar door @ Hanwood, no knowledge on their part of it including SB. It's not on the label or tasting notes. Can anyone confirm?
ReplyDeletePicked up a Jack Cab/Sav, will write up a tasting note on my blog as soon as it cools down enough to drink red. its 31deg again today!
have posted a tasting note for McWilliams Jack Cab. Sav. on my blog (along with lots of tasty recipes)
ReplyDelete