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Australian White Blends > Sauvignon Chardonnay Semillon Chenin Blanc
The multi blend of Chardonnay Semillon Sauvignon Blanc Chenin Blanc gives this blend an absolute unique flavour. The Chardonnay more than almost any other grape Chardonnay responds to different climatic conditions and to the winemaker's art. This, plus the relative ease with which it can be grown, accounts for the marked gradation of flavours and styles, from steely, cool climate austerity to almost tropical lusciousness. The relatively sharp end of the spectrum is one of the best choices for simple fish dishes, most Chardonnays are superb with roast chicken or other white meat, the really full, rich, New World blockbusters need rich fish and seafood dishes. Oaky Chardonnays are good choice for smoked fish. Chardonnay grows very well in most regions of Australia.
While the Semillon Sauvignon Blanc is a grape that contains one of the most pungent and powerful of aromas in wine. Flavours of passion fruit, gooseberry, lantana, tomcat, asparagus, tomato bush and tinned peas are possible, followed on the palate by very zingy crisp acid. Sauvignon Blanc grape makes wines with enough bite and sharpness to accompany quite rich fish dishes, while the Semillon is equal to spicy food and rich sauces, often going even better with meat than with fish, sweet Semillon can partner many puddings, especially rich, creamy ones. Semillon also goes well with many cheeses, and Sauternes with Roquefort is a classic combination.
The Chenin Blanc when harvested at optimum maturity, it produces a dry, firm, elegantly floral wine, such as a Savennieres. It also produces sparkling wines of good quality. When harvested late so that noble rot is successfully achieved - when grapes are deliberately allowed to shrivel and intensify on the vine before harvesting then the most succulent and famous sweet wines are the result. All apples and apricots with nutty, honey tones and underlined by a high acidity that help it carry it all along.
| Cape Mentelle Georgiana 2007 Margaret River Region Western Australia 750ml x 12 : This year's Georgiana is once again an exotic blend reflecting her name no doubt. Sauvignon and Chardonnay are the predominant varieties, comprising 75% of the blend with equal portions of Semillon and Chenin making up the balance. The harvest really stretched out this year with the first of the whites harvested on the 28th February while the last white grapes were harvested on the 25th March. Chardonnays averaged 24.0 brix while all the other varieties were picked around 22 brix. Ripe fruit flavours appeared at lower sugar levels than are usually seen in Margaret River. Good sized yields between 10 and 13 tonnes per hectare for whites were the norm though Chardonnays yielded closer to 7 tonnes per hectare.Grapes are sourced from both estate and contract growers in the Margaret River region but predominantly from our own Chapman Brook vineyard planted in 1996-97. Vineyards grow on a range of different soil-types with gravel sandy loams and alluvial sandy loams the most common with a smattering of gravel laterite soils as well. Canopy management methods employed include vertical shoot positioning, Scott Henry and TK2, all with the same objective of maximising sunlight into the fruiting zone. The most favoured technique however is vertical shoot positioning which improves the incident of sunlight exposure, enhancing fruit flavour development, the single most important requirement for aromatic white wines. Irrigation is used judiciously to maintain balanced vine growth and a steady rate of ripening.AN EXCELLENT VINTAGE, MILD AND DRY CONDITIONS RESULTING IN A LONG RIPENING PERIOD PRODUCING GRAPES OF EXCELLENT FLAVOUR INTENSITY.Lifted aromas of citrus and passionfruit. The palate is succulent with mouth filling softness, yet finishing with typical Georgiana crispness. The aromatic melon and lemon flavours skip merrily across the palate, departing with a clean and refreshing finish.Analysis: 13.5% Alcohol, 6.9g/L acidity, pH 3.38
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