McGuigan wines: “Fancy lunch with Winemaker of the Year?”
David: “Er… yep.”

Before the lunch, McGuigan wines evoked thoughts of mass-produced trolley-fillers, made to deliver a fruity punch to the everyday drinker. So I thought that ‘Winemaker of the Year’ would be an award voted by the XFactor-voting public whose main criterion was being able to get three bottles for £10.

But I was wrong on two counts. Firstly, the honour was awarded by a panel of experts (for example, @grapefan). Secondly, McGuigan Wines is intent on not only satisfying as many people as possible, but also on paving the way for their customers’ next step in wine discovery. I like their philosophy: they see themselves as “the wine drinker’s partner, helping them explore and enjoy the wonderful world of wine by making it both affordable and accessible.”

I could waffle on about their Semillon (Bin 9000) range that has won loads of awards for McGuigan Wines (see below for tasting notes), but the two wines that really interested me were the McGuigan Semillon Blanc (Tesco & Sainsbury’s, £7,79) and the McGuigan Semillon Blanc Brut NV (Sainsbury’s, £10.49).

Did I just make a typo? Did I mean to write Sauvignon Blanc? No, I meant Semillon Blanc.

Noting that "consumers love an aromatic, flavoursome and crisp white wine" (i.e. New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs), McGuigan set out to find a grape in Australia that would appeal to that market. So, they played around with the Semillon grape variety and came out with a wine that is "the new millennium white Burgundy style": it's softer than Burgundian whites (to make it more approachable), aromatic, full-flavoured (citrus) and full-bodied. Unlike Sauvignon Blanc, it will also age well. Neil McGuigan says that they are giving customers a wine that moves them on from Sauvignon Blanc: “they are for the evolution of the New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc drinker.”

And they are good. My tasting companions agreed that they have great potential. Neil McGuigan reckons they could compete with decent NZ Sauvignon Blancs. So, to see what the general public think, I’ll be opening a few bottles over Christmas alongside some NZ Sauvignons. I’ll let you know how that goes...

Tasting Notes

• McGuigan S Semillon Blanc 2011. Apparently now out-selling many other categories. I found it approachable and drinkable.
  • Colour: Pale with green hint
  • Nose: Aromatic. Citrus, floral.
  • Mouth: Fresh/crisp acidity. Citrus (esp. lemon) flavours. Medium/long finish.

• McGuigan S Semillon Blanc Brut NV: I’m afraid I’ve lost most of my notes for this apart from that the flavours led from toast, to marmalade, to hay. I’ll just have to buy another bottle to make a proper tasting note. Shame :)

• McGuigan Bin 9000 Semillon 1997 (Gold medal, Best in Class):
  • Colour: Medium depth. Green/yellow.
  • Nose: Aromatic. Grapefruit, lemon, lime, apricot.
  • Mouth: Medium-bodied. Fresh acidity. Powerful flavour intensity. Citrus (grapefruit, lemon). Very long length.

• McGuigan Bin 9000 Semillon 2003 (Gold medal, Best in Class):
  • Colour: Medium depth. Yellow.
  • Nose: Aromatic. Showing some age. Aromas of citrus (esp. lemon) and stone fruit.
  • Mouth: Light/medium body. Crisp/fresh acidity. Flavours of citrus (lemon, lime) and hay. Long/very long length.

• McGuigan Bin 9000 Semillon 2004 (Gold medal, Best in Class): McGuigan says this was a “difficult year” and gives a “fatter wine”.
  • Colour: Medium depth. Yellow/straw yellow.
  • Nose: Moderate aromas. Citrus still prominent. Some age.
  • Mouth: Light body. Crisp acidity. Moderate flavour intensity. Lemon flavours dominant. Medium length. Agree with @grapefan [https://twitter.com/grapefan] that this is muted compared to ’97 & ‘03.

• McGuigan Bin 9000 Semillon 2005 (Gold medal, Best in Class): McGuigan says this was a relatively warm vintage and that the wine “can go on for years”. But, they’re not sure where the “toastiness” is coming from; it’s not the barrels. Overall this wine has more acidity than the previous ones, but is a step back from the 04.
  • Colour: Medium depth.
  • Nose: Moderate aromas. Showing some age.
  • Mouth: Moderate/flavourful flavour intensity: citrus. Fresh acidity.

• McGuigan Bin 9000 Semillon 2006 (Gold medal, Best in Class, International Semillon Trophy): This year’s top Semillon, but I didn’t think went as well with food as some of the others. 
  
  • Colour: Yellow with a hint of green.
  • Nose: Moderate aromas. Citrus (esp. grapefruit), gooseberry, floral/blossom.
  • Mouth: Medium body. Fresh acidity. Citrus (lime, grapefruit). Long finish. Slight petillance.

• McGuigan Bin 9000 Semillon 2007: McGuigan says that this wine is going through “a phase” and will be an outstanding wine in 5 years.
  
  • Nose: Zesty. Less aromatic.
  • Mouth: Good length.

• McGuigan Bin 9000 Semillon 2011:
  
  • Colour: Watery/almost colourless with slight green tint.
  • Nose: Moderate/aromatic aroma intensity. Youthful in development with aromas of fruit, stone fruit and talc.

Published 8 December 2011