As many Americans are discovering riesling as a wonderful white grape  - Austrailan wine producers are really ratcheting up their production of an often over-looked grape – Semillon. This grape is typically a very food-friendly wine with good acidty that leaves your mouth feeling very clean afterwards – it’s generally not a variety that folks who love a velvety mouthfeel would gravitate towards.

Brokenwood wines was established in 1970 and had its first vintage in 1973 – its been fully cemented as a premium Austrailian producer that has a razor-sharp focus on producing wines which not only reflect each vineyard’s unique terroir – but ones that they feel offer a good experience for the money and as you may know – I’m all about that.

2008 Cricket Pitch Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon Blend – W.E.P. Rating: 90%

Technical Data

• Alcohol: 12.5%
• Acidity: 6.60
• pH: 3.35
• Residual Sugar: 3.35
• Price: $19

Nose: Honey, dill, limestone, kowi, mango and lemon.

Taste: Bright acidity coming through with nice layers of straw-laden citrus fruits with an ever-so-slight touch of honey. A very crisp and decently-long finish and a surprisingly great mouth-feel – a quintessential shellfish wine that should be near the top of your list.

2008 Hunter Valley Semillon – W.E.P. Rating: 95%

Technical Data:

• Alcohol: 10.0%
• Grapes:
• Acidity: g/L
• pH:
• Residual Sugar: g/L
• Price: $20

Nose: Honeydew, stone-fruit, chalk-dust, elmer’s paste and some flintiness.

Taste: Okay, so who’s the wiseguy that went and lit the match? A nice attack of citrus, lemon/lime zest, grapefruit pulp and kiwi combined with razor-sharp acidity make this wine a natural with all sorts of seafoods.

2005 Brycefield/Belford Vineyard Semillon – W.E.P. Rating: 100%

Technical Data:

• Alcohol: 10%
• Acidity: 6.6
• pH: 3.03
• Residual Sugar: 2.0 g/L
• Cooperage: 100% Stainless
• Price: $36

Nose: A massive attack of grass clippings, grapefruit, kiwi, lemon, lime and citrus peel. Baby powder-covered grandma’s locker from the attic.

Taste: Sparkly citrus action with a lawnmower-bag full of fresh grass clippings on top. Granny’s mildew-laden foot-locker with red delicious apple is in full effect and the sheer flavor, nose and finish on this wine make it – hands down – the best Semillon I’ve had from a “new world” producer. I’m feelin’ it, diggin’ it and would gladly recommend it. I know $30-plus dollars is a chunk for a lot of people these days, however, for me – this wine brings some nice complexities with it.

Winery website: www.brokenwood.com.au