1999 St. Hallets Semillon Select - many people would say that this wine was
over the hill. I'd say that they don't understand Semillon. It had a medium
amber colour, a nose of mixed lime juice and wood smoke, had more of a lemon
flavour on palate, and was complex, finishing quite crisply. I wouldn't hold it
any longer, but it certainly drinks well now.

"Bill Spohn" > wrote in message
...
> 1999 St. Hallets Semillon Select - many people would say that this wine
> was
> over the hill. I'd say that they don't understand Semillon. It had a
> medium
> amber colour, a nose of mixed lime juice and wood smoke, had more of a
> lemon
> flavour on palate, and was complex, finishing quite crisply. I wouldn't
> hold it
> any longer, but it certainly drinks well now.

Generally, though not always, Barossa semillons don't age that well and tend
towards coarseness. Hunter semillons on the other hand....I still have a
couple of bottles of Draytons 7038, (1970). This wine is still drinking
superbly. Lindemans semillons from a good year will last a long time.

Ron Lel

I seldom see Semillon from California where I live, but I have been told
that California Semillon was more popular in the era shortly after WWII.
I believe Wente made quite a bit of Semillon from Livermore-grown grapes
in those days that was distributed throughout the US. But Semillon does
have the potential for making long-lived wines in the right regions,
especially when made in a late harvest style. After all, Semillon is the
major grape used for Yquem. I also have read that, in the old days, some
Australian Semillon was called Riesling. Unfortunately I do not see many
of the better Australian Semillons in my area.

My mailbox is always full to avoid spam. To contact me, erase
from my email address. Then add . I do not
check this box every day, so post if you need a quick response.

Cwdjrx _ wrote:

> Unfortunately I do not see many
> of the better Australian Semillons in my area.

What *are* some of the better Aussie semillons?
(These would be the ones that repay cellaring)

Mark S

Cwdjrx _ wrote:

> Unfortunately I do not see many
> of the better Australian Semillons in my area.

What *are* some of the better Aussie semillons?
(These would be the ones that repay cellaring)

Mark S

Mark S. asks: "What *are* some of the better Aussie semillons? (These
would be the ones that repay cellaring)"

I have had too little experience with Australian Semillon to give a
personal recomendation for a good one to cellar. Hugh Johnson claims
that the Hunter Valley region in New South Wales can produceSemillons
that can last for 30 years. Johnson however cautions that the traditonal
Hunter Valley Semillon is made without oak and is extremey long lived,
but now many are made in an oaky Chardonnay substitute style. In his
2000 pocket guide, Jonhson rates McWilliam's Elizabeth Semillon(sold at
6 years old) and Lovedale Semillon (sold at 10 years old) as Austrlia's
best Semillons now being made. If I saw these at a store, I would try
them. Hopefully others can provide other good choices.

My mailbox is always full to avoid spam. To contact me, erase
from my email address. Then add . I do not
check this box every day, so post if you need a quick response.

> wrote in message
oups.com...
> Cwdjrx _ wrote:
>
>> Unfortunately I do not see many
>> of the better Australian Semillons in my area.
>
> What *are* some of the better Aussie semillons?
> (These would be the ones that repay cellaring)
>
> Mark S


As I've already posted. Lindemans bin wines are excellent. Also very good
are Brokenwood, McWilliams Lovedale and Elisabeth, the latter being very
good value. Consistently a top wine is Tyrrells Vat 1, though this may be
hard to get in the States.

> wrote in message
oups.com...
> Cwdjrx _ wrote:
>
>> Unfortunately I do not see many
>> of the better Australian Semillons in my area.
>
> What *are* some of the better Aussie semillons?
> (These would be the ones that repay cellaring)
>
> Mark S


As I've already posted. Lindemans bin wines are excellent. Also very good
are Brokenwood, McWilliams Lovedale and Elisabeth, the latter being very
good value. Consistently a top wine is Tyrrells Vat 1, though this may be
hard to get in the States.

Stony Hill in California occasionally makes an excellent dessert semillon, I
think its Semillon d'Soleil. Its not D'Yquem but the one's I tasted should
last for about 20 years.

--
Joe "Beppe" Rosenberg
"Ron Lel" > wrote in message
...
>
> > wrote in message
> oups.com...
> > Cwdjrx _ wrote:
> >
> >> Unfortunately I do not see many
> >> of the better Australian Semillons in my area.
> >
> > What *are* some of the better Aussie semillons?
> > (These would be the ones that repay cellaring)
> >
> > Mark S
>
>
> As I've already posted. Lindemans bin wines are excellent. Also very good
> are Brokenwood, McWilliams Lovedale and Elisabeth, the latter being very
> good value. Consistently a top wine is Tyrrells Vat 1, though this may be
> hard to get in the States.
>
>

Stony Hill in California occasionally makes an excellent dessert semillon, I
think its Semillon d'Soleil. Its not D'Yquem but the one's I tasted should
last for about 20 years.

--
Joe "Beppe" Rosenberg
"Ron Lel" > wrote in message
...
>
> > wrote in message
> oups.com...
> > Cwdjrx _ wrote:
> >
> >> Unfortunately I do not see many
> >> of the better Australian Semillons in my area.
> >
> > What *are* some of the better Aussie semillons?
> > (These would be the ones that repay cellaring)
> >
> > Mark S
>
>
> As I've already posted. Lindemans bin wines are excellent. Also very good
> are Brokenwood, McWilliams Lovedale and Elisabeth, the latter being very
> good value. Consistently a top wine is Tyrrells Vat 1, though this may be
> hard to get in the States.
>
>

"Cwdjrx _" > wrote in message
...

snipped

.. After all, Semillon is the
> major grape used for Yquem. I also have read that, in the old days, some
> Australian Semillon was called Riesling. Unfortunately I do not see many
> of the better Australian Semillons in my area.

No, it was actually called "Hunter River Riesling", not "riesling".

Ron Lel

I found two Semillons in Decanter's December issue that included a brief
listing of 4000 of their wine reviews in 2004. These likely are not 30
year wines, but they might make good drinking now and for a few years.

Belgravia, Late Harvest Semillon, Orange 2002, 375 ml, 7.25 Pounds, 4
out of 5 stars rating. Most likely a rather sweet wine.

Peter Lehmann Semillon, Barossa 2002, 5.49 Pounds, 4 out of 5 star
rating. It looks as if they found a real bargin here.

Both of these wines were available in the UK, but I have no idea what
their distribution may have been elsewhere.

My mailbox is always full to avoid spam. To contact me, erase
from my email address. Then add . I do not
check this box every day, so post if you need a quick response.

"Cwdjrx _" > wrote in message
...
>I found two Semillons in Decanter's December issue that included a brief
> listing of 4000 of their wine reviews in 2004. These likely are not 30
> year wines, but they might make good drinking now and for a few years.
>
> Belgravia, Late Harvest Semillon, Orange 2002, 375 ml, 7.25 Pounds, 4
> out of 5 stars rating. Most likely a rather sweet wine.
>
> Peter Lehmann Semillon, Barossa 2002, 5.49 Pounds, 4 out of 5 star
> rating. It looks as if they found a real bargin here.
>
> Both of these wines were available in the UK, but I have no idea what
> their distribution may have been elsewhere.
>
> My mailbox is always full to avoid spam. To contact me, erase
> from my email address. Then add . I do not
> check this box every day, so post if you need a quick response.
>

Orange is a comparatively new area, producing some decent wines. The Lehmann
wine - a Barossa semillon, is one I would not keep for more than 4-5 years
max. Look for Hunter semillons. Alternatively come to Australia and drink
mine.

Ron

"Cwdjrx _" > wrote in message
...
>I found two Semillons in Decanter's December issue that included a brief
> listing of 4000 of their wine reviews in 2004. These likely are not 30
> year wines, but they might make good drinking now and for a few years.
>
> Belgravia, Late Harvest Semillon, Orange 2002, 375 ml, 7.25 Pounds, 4
> out of 5 stars rating. Most likely a rather sweet wine.
>
> Peter Lehmann Semillon, Barossa 2002, 5.49 Pounds, 4 out of 5 star
> rating. It looks as if they found a real bargin here.
>
> Both of these wines were available in the UK, but I have no idea what
> their distribution may have been elsewhere.
>
> My mailbox is always full to avoid spam. To contact me, erase
> from my email address. Then add . I do not
> check this box every day, so post if you need a quick response.
>

Orange is a comparatively new area, producing some decent wines. The Lehmann
wine - a Barossa semillon, is one I would not keep for more than 4-5 years
max. Look for Hunter semillons. Alternatively come to Australia and drink
mine.

Ron

On Fri, 10 Dec 2004 02:46:35 GMT, "Ron Lel" > wrote:

>
> wrote in message
roups.com...
>> Cwdjrx _ wrote:
>>
>>> Unfortunately I do not see many
>>> of the better Australian Semillons in my area.
>>
>> What *are* some of the better Aussie semillons?
>> (These would be the ones that repay cellaring)
>>
>> Mark S
>
>
>As I've already posted. Lindemans bin wines are excellent. Also very good
>are Brokenwood, McWilliams Lovedale and Elisabeth, the latter being very
>good value. Consistently a top wine is Tyrrells Vat 1, though this may be
>hard to get in the States.
>
Tyrells also have a less expensive age worthy Semillon called The
Belford. The 97 picked up a swag of awards, and is really beginning
to show those classic Hunter aged Sem traits.

As much as I criticise the Rosemount 'mass production' philosophy, I
cannot knock their Show Reserve Hunter Semillons, (currently drinking
the '95), which are released at about 5 years old (iirc).

Steve Hoff (Barossa) makes a delightful Semillon, under his Heritage
Wines label. Made to drink younger, it is the closest I have had
from SA that does tatste like an aged Sem. The colour is unique, as
it is relatively golden colour at such a youthful age.

Regards...Swooper