McHenry Hohnen Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2011 Margaret River

McHenry Hohnen Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2011 Margaret River

This vintage - the 2011 has produced a lovely pale lemon wine with grassy aromas which also include, lime, lemon pith and a medicinal nuance These follow through to the flavour palate. Great acidity keeps the fruit fresh and zingy, with a pithy citric character and a pea-pod aftertatse, good length and  a spicy, pithy finish. The alcohol on this wine ( 12.5%) is enrobing and does not over-ride the fresh clean fruits. Clean, fresh and summery - all words that work for this wine, great with food, but also great without!

Score : 86




David Hohnen of  McHenry Hohnen ( who studied winemaking in the States, at UC Davis, California)  produces this mix of  60% Semillon and 40% Sauvignon Blanc in Margaret River, Western Australia. He must be one of the best known winemakers of Australia and New Zealand, ( Cape Mentelle in the 1970's / Cloudy Bay in the 1980's  fame ). He was his usual relaxed, informal self when he presented his wines at Australia House to a group of wine journalists and enthusiasts.
Luis Vuitton Moët Hennessy (LVMH) took a share in the buiness in the 1990's which he continued to manage it until 2003 when he retired to concentrate on his own interests. In 2006, David and his brother-in-law, Murray McHenry, launched McHenry Hohnen Wines, and was joined by his daughter Freya as the winemaker though she has since left to start a family. McHenry Hohnen has four vineyards and grows eighteen varieties reflecting Margaret River's heritage, being mostly Bordeaux varieties like Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Malbec, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. "I'm from Margaret River, and I want to tell the story of Margaret River through the wines," he says



Margaret River is Located approximately three hours' drive south of Perth, the region was ‘discovered’ in the early 1970s after various pieces of research from Professor Harold Olmo and Dr John Gladstones identified it as a potentially great grape growing region. The Margaret River area includes the rolling hills of the Leeuwin-Naturaliste Ridge, extending 90 kilometres north-south between Cape Naturaliste and Cape Leeuwin, and is bounded to the west by the Indian Ocean. Highly regarded as a producer of powerful yet elegant Cabernet Sauvignon, the region has also forged a great reputation for its white wines notably Chardonnay and Semillon Sauvignon Blanc blends. However, it is capable of producing all the classic varietal wines. The region is a vibrant and popular wine destination for visitors from around the world.

Margaret River wine region first saw European settlement as late as the 1830’s and has evolved from pioneer ‘outstation’, forestry, dairy, alternative life stylers who enjoyed the unique coast and its surfing to an area dedicated to the pursuit of great vines and fine wine.

The climate is strongly maritime-influenced, as might be expected in a region surrounded by the ocean on three sides. With a mean annual temperature range of only 7.6°C (45.68°F), it has less than 25% of its annual rain falling between October and April. The low diurnal and seasonal temperature range means an unusually even accumulation of warmth. While spring frosts are very rare and highly localised, the lack of winter dormancy for the vines can cause problems that are unique to this region.