2009 Catching Thieves Semillon Sauvignon Blanc
Friday, January 22, 2010 at 12:05PM This week, we're talking about another bargain or two.
McWilliams had a great night when the results of the National Wine Show in Canberra were announced with four gold medals going to well-priced Western Australian wines from their portfolio. The 2008 Catching Thieves Cabernet Merlot ($16.95) also won a trophy for Best Commercial Red of the Show and 2007 Evans & Tate Cabernet Merlot ($22.95) won the trophy for Best Red Blend. Gold medals went to the 2009 Catching Thieves Semillon Sauvignon Blanc ($16.95) and (from a very tricky Margaret River vintage) the 2006 Evans & Tate Cabernet Merlot ($22.95). The Catching Thieves Semillon Sauvignon Blanc also won gold in Hobart on the same evening. That is a spectacular result.
McWillam's Wines excellent Production Director, Jim Brayne said the trophies and gold medals won by Catching Thieves and Evans & Tate at the 2009 National Wine Show of Australia reflected the winery's commitment and investment in the Western Australian region. It's a pity then that, in a moment of marketing madness McWilliams entered the Catching Thieves wines in the Show as coming from the Victorian label, Lillydale Estate. I'm hoping they'll tidy that up in future shows so that the label's Western Australian provenance is underlined.
This marks a significant step forward for the quality of Catching Thieves label. The judges commented that the 2009 Catching Thieves SSB - as the only gold medal winner in a class of 38 wines - was 'a fresh, zippy blend' but the rest of the class were disappointing. I thought the wine was pure, fresh and bright with vibrant ripe tropical flavours of passionfruit, peach and pineappple, showed fruity concentration and an impeccably balanced tangy finish. It's better than most whites for which you'd pay $5 to $10 more.
The 2008 Catching Thieves Cabernet Merlot is great summer drinking: it's quite lightly framed; ripe soft and fleshy with vibrant plummy flavours that are intense and pure, before an attractive approachable finish. No question, there's brilliant value here.
Rating: Bloody Good
Cost: $ 16.95
Wide availability in all Australian states. www.mcwilliams.com.au
Reviewed: 22 January 2010
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