Inspired by the first visit of a reigning monarch to Australia in 1954, this wine is the embodiment of the synergy achieved by combining the noble grape varietal Semillon and the Hunter Valley. Renowned for its unique ability to be enjoyed when fresh and admired when allowed to age gracefully. Mount Pleasant celebrates both styles through ‘Elizabeth’. Crisp, lively and refreshing.
2016 Vintage Conditions:
The lead up to 2016 was superb, beautiful cool and dry conditions through veraison providing excellent clean and healthy fruit and canopies. The wettest January since 1972 followed, testing winemakers patience, with picking pushed back to see this period out.
After this a dry February allowed the land to lose the moisture and grapes ripen and vintage to be back on track. Picking was 1-2 weeks behind average with lower than normal crops and a lot of hand picking to mitigate any risks of disease.
2018 Vintage Conditions:
Little rainfall and a warm winter resulted in ealy bud burst for the region. The region recorded lower than average rainfall throughout the growing season resulting in an early vintage. Fruit quality was high with no disease pressure. With crops being slightly lower than average, harvest was around 8 days earlier than normal, with pristine fruit showing great intensity.
Vinification and Maturation:
Hand picked early in the morning. Only ?free run? juice (~500L/t) was cool fermented in stainless steel at 12-15ºC for ~14 days. Bottled early to retain freshness of primary fruit.
TASTING NOTES:
| Colour: | Bright green hues |
| Aroma: | Classic citrus characters of lime & lemongrass predominate with wonderful intensity and purity. |
| Palate: | An elegant yet intense palate of pure Semillon fruit providing great line & length. |
| Wine Analysis: | pH: 0 TA: 0 g/L |
| Winemaker: | Jim Chatto |
| Last Tasted: | 20160428 |
| Peak Drinking: | Will drink well now or cellar over the next 15 years. |
Professional Reviews:
90 Points by James Halliday - Wine Companion 2018
"The palest straw colour; there's a softness and approachability to this young semillon offering up easy-drinking appeal. Lavender bath salts, talcy with ultra-refreshing acidity, some sour pineapple, lemon blossom and kaffir lime leaves adding to a zesty, moreish wine. The requisite acidity will ensure it will develop more complexity in time."
94 Points by Campbell Mattinson - The Wine Front
"Pretty as an absolute picture.
Well. It’s a beauty. It’s ultra young and yet it’s drinking ultra well. It tastes of stones and citrus, slate and (whispers of) lemongrass. It’s dry to the point of sturdiness, acidic in a mellifluous way. There’s a slight spritz but it’s nothing to worry about. It’s long. One sip and I was hooked."
