Alkoomi Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2008

Alkoomi Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2008 (Frankland River, WA)
$15, Screwcap, 12.5%
Winery Website

I really quite like the normal ‘black label’ of Alkoomi, it looks authentic and even elegant. This ‘white label’ however looks (and feels) plasticky, which the wines themselves don’t deserve. I’ve never liked the push to simple primary colours on second (& third) labels, it so rarely does anything but cheapen a brand and I find the green here almost garish in its, well, greenness.

Ignoring the labelling (which is of little consequence really, I’m just nitpicking) and focusing on quality vs value terms, this has always been impressive, which fairly reflects the high quality of the Alkoomi whites in general.

The wine itself is water green in colour, with a nose that shows smoky, mildly herbaceous tinned passionfruit characters with an obvious cool ferment subdued freshness. It’s a forthright nose that smells like grapes grown for quality, not yield.

Palate wise, its more limey than the nose and actually quite long, full of green bean meets passionfruit flavours in a simple, but yet appreciably fruit sweet & mouthfilling mould. It even finishes with flinty, green acidity, just to push the refreshment factor up a notch.

For the meagre $15 (less on spec) price this commands, there is much to like here. Big value tick from me. 17.0