Vertical Three Pack SSB16, SSB07, SBS05

Over twenty years ago when I first got involved in the family wine business, I took some short courses with Lindsay Corby who was a lecturer at La Trobe University.  I track our wines every so often and Lindsay (who now runs his own show with Cosmo Wines) joins me to taste through different vintages of UMAMU Sauvignon Blanc Semillon & Semillon Sauvignon Blends to see how they are progressing and to curate a vertical pack for you.  Here is a three pack of three different vintages 2016, 2007, 2005 we put together based on our tasting for you to explore.  

Here are the summary notes and video from our tasting where we discuss age, structure, acidity, aroma and food pairing.

2016 Sauvignon Blanc Semillon - shows golden tones and evolving aromatics of honeydew melon, palate is soft, round and not as zingy as the 2019 with creamy barrel toastiness coming through.  This wine won Silver Medal at the Australian Small Winemakers Show 2025 and Blue Gold at the Sydney Wine Show Judged with Food in 2017.

2007 Sauvignon Blanc Semillon - Blend is 67% Sauvignon Blanc and vintage was slightly warmer than 2005.  Wine is slight golden yellow and bright.  Tending to Sauvignon Blanc aromatically with subtle green bean note.  A structured wine with more phenolics than others in the line up.  Touch of astrigency present, the wine is still very alive with good longevity ahead.

This wine won a Double Blue Gold Winner Sydney Wine Show Judged with Food in 2013.  In 2012 was on the wine list at Two (now three) Michelin Star restaurant, The Ledbury in London.  The restaurant was crowned the best restaurant in the UK for the third consecutive year in 2012 and was listed on the The World's 50 Best Restaurant list.  

2005 Semillon Sauvignon Blanc - Blend is 65% Semillon so almost a direct inversion of the 2007 blend.  Wine is golden yellow and bright.  When you open the bottle especially when the weather is warm, it feels like the aroma is jumping out to give you a hug - multi layered, beautifully integrated and intense with slight oiliness, bottle age notes coming through.  Palate has layered structure and complexity, light oiliness on the tongue, acidity is balanced and nicely evident with snow pea lingering softly in the background.  Solid medium body.  Wine shows 21 years of evolution beautifully.  Read more about this wine here. This wine won Silver in the Margaret River Wine Show in 2025.

The secret to our wines lasting so well is the natural acidity the vineyard gives us, the terrior of Margaret River with the long ripening window collecting lots of character and complexity and patience to watch over the wines to see how they age!

Because the wines have had time to build character and horsepower, they lend themselves and pair well with Asian dishes such as Thai Green Curry, Medium Spicy Fried Rice, Satay, Medium Spice Curry Laksa. They also pair well with seared buttered seafood.

Cheers Charmaine & Team UMAMU