If the Bizoe Morningstar 2022 could speak, it would be remembered for its eloquence. The wine is beautifully articulated in its superb balance of acidity, fruit and alcohol, yet gentle in expressing its Darling-origin and cultivar typicity. Three different clones were interplanted that builds the inherent character Semillon to a crescendo of aroma and flavour.
From R250.00
Appearance
Medium lemon with a pale marigold hue that gives the wine both richness and luminosity. The deeper yellow tone suggests some bottle development, while the brightness in the glass keeps it looking vivid and very much alive.
Nose
Immediately distinctive. Honeysuckle introduces a soft waxy perfume, while marigold brings a more earthy, savoury floral character that seems almost to echo the colour of the wine itself. Saffron adds an exotic accent, followed by dried yellow flowers and a faint potpourri-like quality. Against this warm yellow aromatic spectrum runs a cooler green thread of lemon leaf, bay leaf, celery leaf, nettle and fresh hay. This interplay between yellow and green gives the nose its individuality. The fruit plays a quieter role, but is no less interesting: lemon curd, preserved lemon, kiwi, a touch of marmalade, dried apricot and fig leaf. With further air, more evolved notes of ginger, almond and hazelnut begin to emerge, adding another layer of complexity.
Palate
Dry, although there is a beautiful sense of perceived sweetness from the ripe fruit and honeycomb-like development. The acidity feels fresh and fully integrated rather than sharp, allowing the wine to glide across the palate with an almost satin-like quality. The texture is one of its defining features: creamy yet finely grippy, broad and mouth-coating, with a subtle lanolin-like richness that gives the wine considerable depth.
Flavours seem to ricochet across the palate rather than arrive in a straight line. Preserved lemon, apricot, pear, herbs, honeycomb, ginger and nuttiness appear in layers, while a fine phenolic grip keeps the richness controlled and dry.
Finish
Long, poised and persistent. The fruit continues well beyond the initial palate, accompanied by a waxy texture, dried herbs and subtle nuttiness. Sophisticated and composed, with excellent carry.
Conclusion
An outstanding Sémillon with genuine character and poise. Its balance is not simply about fruit and acidity, but about the relationship between perfume, texture, maturity and freshness. The wine shows clear evolution without losing purity, suggesting it was made with an understanding of how Sémillon develops rather than simply how it drinks in youth. There is complexity and depth here, but also restraint. The waxy texture, herbal freshness, yellow florals and evolving tertiary notes all feel part of the same whole.
Ageing Potential
Beautiful now, but with the intensity, acidity and structural integrity to continue developing well. Further bottle age should bring greater waxiness, nuttiness and tertiary complexity while softening the remaining youthful edges. Easily capable of rewarding further ageing over the next five years and potentially longer, depending on storage.
CONSUMER TASTING NOTE
Sémillon lovers may very well bend the knee for this one. Made from Darling fruit, it carries that wonderful combination of warmth and coolness that can make more mature Sémillon so compelling. The first impression is almost a canvas of yellow and green suspended together: honeysuckle, marigold, acacia and dried yellow flowers alongside kiwi, lemon leaf, sage, bay leaf and nettle.
Then the fruit begins to appear. Preserved lemon, lemon curd, dried apricot and a touch of marmalade sit beneath the perfume, while ginger, saffron and faint nuttiness add depth. There is even something reminiscent of fresh morning dew on lime leaves – cool, green and incredibly alive.
On the palate, the wine becomes even more persuasive. The acidity has had time to settle into the wine, so instead of feeling sharp, it gives poise and carries the fruit effortlessly. There is a waxy, honeycomb-like richness and a satin texture, with preserved pear, apricot and lanolin adding breadth, while a fine phenolic grip keeps everything beautifully dry.
The flavours seem to bounce around the palate, layered with citrus, herbs, flowers, nuts, wax and spice. That is the beauty of good Sémillon with some age – it becomes more interesting: more layered, mesmerising and persistent, with enough freshness to keep it elegant and ethereal.
FOOD PAIRING
Keep the food delicate enough to let the wine remain the centre of attention.
Butternut and sage ravioli with brown butter and toasted pine nuts would be ideal. The natural sweetness of the butternut mirrors the wine’s broader apricot and honeycomb notes, while sage picks up its herbal character. Brown butter and pine nuts echo the wine’s developing nuttiness and waxy texture without overwhelming it.
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