Edenvale Semillon Sauvignon Blanc - a sunny Aussie pick for dreary January

Edenvale Premium Reserve Selection Semillon Sauvignon Blanc, 94 points

Photo credit: Some Good Clean Fun, 2024

Edenvale is an Australian brand quickly becoming a leader in the non-alcoholic wine space, and their recent Semillon Sauvignon Blanc is a good demonstration of why. From the high-end look and feel of the bottle, to the last sip, this wine delivers an experience.

Edenvale’s humble beginnings in non-alcoholic wine started in the mid-00s when they launched their first product in a small grocery chain down under, and they haven’t looked back since. They’re a brand to watch on the global stage as they’ve invested in new technology to continue innovating and making great winemaker led non-alcoholic wines.

Along with the release of their premium Expedition Series in 2022 using unique blends and premium grapes from vineyards in Spain, they’ve created another premium line called Premium Reserve Selection. Winemaker Michael Bright says they’re “lovingly crafted from the best parcels of fruit South Australia has to offer”, and it definitely shows.

Marrying Semillon with Sauvignon Blanc is quite common. Semillon is known for its full body almost like a new world chardonnay, but with distinct flavors closer to a Pinot Gris. It’s an important blending varietal since it’s so close to Sauv Blanc in nature.

In this non-alcoholic white wine, the mix of the two varietals provides a nice balanced blend of citrus and minerality.

It has a fragrant young nose of grass and green apple. On the palette, it’s nice and tart with notes of lemon and sustained green apple through to the finish. There are some very faint hits of grass and aromatics, married with a crisp acidity.

The mouthfeel is mid-weight which is just right for a blend like this, and the wine doesn’t fall apart.

This is a fresh, young wine that would pair really well with eggs benedict, seafood in a lemon cream sauce, low-spice Asian foods or baklava for dessert.

You can buy this wine direct through Sansorium.com ($36.50) and it’s worth every drop!

How I score wines (based on IWSC standards):

95 to 100 - An excellent drink with a great personality. An example that stands out among its peers

90 to 94 - An accomplished drink with considerable personality, character and complexity. A classic example of its style or variety.

85 to 89 - A perfectly well-made drink which provides an enjoyable drinking experience.

80 to 84 - An acceptable but simple drink, lacking distinction.

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