This year's winner of the Decanter World Wine Awards International Trophy for the Best in Show White Single-Varietal Under £15 went to McGuigan, Bin 9000 Semillon, Hunter Valley 2007, Australia.
White Single-Varietal under £15 McGuigan, Bin 9000 Semillon, Hunter Valley, New South Wales, Australia 2007 (11%)
Zesty, lemon-curd style of Semillon with classic toasty, honeyed characters. Rich, spicy pear and apricot nose with hints of beeswax, kiwi, exotic fruit and grassy notes. Not available in the UK
Tasted against • Marks & Spencer, Secano Estate Sauvignon Gris, Leyda Valley, San Antonio, Chile 2011 • Argyros, Assyrtiko, Santorini, Aegean Islands, Greece 2012 • Royal Tokaji, Furmint, Tokaj-Hegyalja, Hungary 2011 • Château Maravenne, Grande Réserve, Côtes de Provence, France 2012
Facing strong competition from Old World regions renowned for their native varieties, McGuigan has shown with this International Trophy win just why Hunter Valley Semillon is regarded as a New World classic. For the past three years, the Old World has clinched this title, so it’s particularly exciting to see Australia reaffirming its talent for producing terroir-specific, single-varietal wines.
McGuigan Wines was founded in 1992, reflecting the experience of four generations of McGuigan families. With the aim of specialising in handcrafted, outstanding Hunter Valley wines, its Pokolbin winery was built in 1968, and underwent a complete renovation in 2008. The Hunter Valley today is recognised not only as one of Australia’s oldest wineproducing regions, but as one of the major regions for a unique style of Semillon, of which the McGuigan Bin 9000 Semillon is a perfect example.
Bin 9000 Semillon was first launched in 1997. The fruit is sourced from the base of the Brokenback Range where a cooling influence from coastal sea breezes moderates the hot summers. Grapes are sourced from low-yielding old vines grown on their own rootstock.
The senior McGuigan winemaker, Peter Hall, was responsible for the very first vintage, and was recognised by his peers as the Hunter Valley Winemaker of the Year 2013.
At the 2010 DWWA, the 2003 vintage won a Regional Trophy. Back then, general manager Neil McGuigan told Decanter that as proud as he was of the win, he thought the 2007 would outdo it. How right he was.
Anthony Rose
Written by Decanter
