Winery: Moss Wood
Region: Margaret River
Variety: Semillon
Vintage: 2010
Your Wine Guy says:
This is a wonderfully concentrated wine. Complex on the nose with aromas of lemon, green apple and fig the palate shows lively flavours of citrus and melon and a beautifully textured crisp and long finish.
The Moss Wood Semillon is medium straw colour in the glass. The nose shows ‘granny smith’ green apple characters with lemon citrus and a hint of musk that really adds to the complexity. The palate has great concentration with long-lasting flavours of grapefruit, melon, citrus and some spice. The finish is crisp and dry with great length of flavour. This could be aged for a number of years in the cellar and will rival many great Hunter Semillons – given the chance.
95 Points YWG Drink to 2020+
Critics say:
“Very tightly focused and structured, with herb, grass and mineral characters dominant on both bouquet and palate; long and lean, with years to go.”
94 Points Drink to 2019 James Halliday Wine Companion
The winemaker says:
Colour: Medium straw colour, with green tints. Bright condition.
Nose: Fresh fruit aromas of grapefruit, apple and fig. There are also strong notes of pear and musk which is unusual in Moss Wood Semillon and seems to be a feature of 2010. Although we are not completely certain, we believe this is the result of a predominance of distinctly pink berries, as described above. This is a feature of the variety and they occur every year but for reasons about which we are unsure, they were plentiful in 2010. This distinctiveness also applies to the flavours and these grapes have almost a Muscat like floral character. This complexity is further enhanced by background notes of caramel and lanolin.
Palate: This is classic Moss Wood Semillon, combining crisp acidity with full body and a slight firmness of tannin on the finish. The mid-palate has ripe apple, fig and pear flavours giving a generous, almost sweet feel, despite the fact the wine is completely dry.
All the typical Moss Wood Semillon characters are on display – apples, figs and honey etc but for those with an eye for the interesting detail of any vintage, we report something of a curiosity about this year’s Semillon. It produced a significant number of pink berries. Although Semillon is obviously a white grape, readers may be amused to learn that rose-coloured berries are quite common and occur in most vintages. However, for reasons about which we can only speculate, 2010 conditions produced them in much greater numbers. They have a distinctive musk, or Muscat-like flavour that is almost confectionery in nature and this really adds to the complexity of the 2010.
The wine presents with enjoyable fruit aromas and flavours and can be consumed by itself as an aperitif or with food. However, its concentration and complexity will repay patience and we recommend it be cellared for at least 10 years. It has a style that is reminiscent of the 1995 vintage which has aged beautifully over its 15 years and is now a wine of great complexity. We believe the 2010 is destined for similar things. – Moss Wood
Winery/Label Information:
It should display fresh primary fruit aromas of lemons, green apples and figs, while the palate should have lifted acidity, rich texture and a touch of tannin for good cellaring. The fruit is destemmed before pressing. Fermentation takes place as normal in stainless steel tanks held at 18°C, with weekly lees stirring. After the fermentation is completed, there is a reduction in the amount of lees stirring to emphasise the wine’s primary fruit notes. - Moss Wood
Moss Wood is a premium wine producer located in the Margaret River Wine region of Western Australia. The area is regarded as one of Australia's premium grape growing regions.
Listed in the Exceptional category of Langton’s Classification V of Fine Australian wines. One of only 4 Cabernet wines in the top Exceptional category.
Dr. Bill Pannell, one of Margaret River's early pioneers, established Moss Wood in 1969. By the early 1980s the Cabernet Sauvignons were regarded as something very special. Keith Mugford, who began as an assistant winemaker and his wife Clare purchased the property in 1985. They have taken Moss Wood to the pinnacle of Australian Cabernet Sauvignon.
The wines produced at Moss Wood are Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Semillon and from Moss Wood's Ribbon Vale Vineyard, Semillon Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Merlot and Merlot. There is also a Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Malbec, produced from grapes sourced from Yallingup and Cowaramup and since 2008, a Moss Wood Mornington Peninsula Pinot Noir, produced from grapes sourced from that famous Victorian region.
Proprietors Clare and Keith Mugford enjoy the challenge of consistently producing high quality wines at Moss Wood. All decisions made in the vineyard and winery are based on the effect they will have on the quality of the wine. – Moss Wood
James Halliday writes of Moss Wood “Widely regarded as one of the best wineries in the region, capable of producing glorious Semillon in both oaked and unoaked forms, unctuous Chardonnay and elegant, gently herbaceous, superfine Cabernet Sauvignon, which lives for many years.” 5 Red Stars
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