2023 Crawford River Beta Sauvignon Blanc Semillon

95 pts
Characterful and complex white blend here - what can't Crawford River do?!

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Sale price$37.00
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Description

Crawford River’s 'Beta' Sauvignon Blanc Semillon blend is built different, with a touch more age, a whole lot more complexity, and the kind of detail that rewards a second (or third) glass.

From a limestone-laced vineyard planted in 1994, this blend is all about precision. Sauvignon Blanc brings the pretty aromatics—white florals, a flicker of green melon - while Semillon adds depth, citrus pith, and a quiet, confident power. Fermented wild and aged for 10 months in older oak, it’s silky yet structured, bright yet lingering, and has enough grip to keep things interesting.

Think cashew, flint, chalk, and green walnut wrapped in a cool, linear frame of natural acidity. This is crisp, textured and built to evolve - perfect for those who like their whites with a bit of edge.

95 points - "Whole-bunched pressed and settled overnight before being racked into older oak for fermentation for 10 months and then put back into tank for six months. A medium bright green gold. A little more restrained than the '22, you'll find aromas of white nectarine, lemon verbena, almond and some white pepper. The palate is textured, saline, chalky and long and, while it's already looking good, I can see this becoming even more complex over the short to medium term." - Philip Rich (Halliday Wine Companion)

Customer Reviews

Customer Reviews

Based on 2 reviews
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K
Karen H.
Delicious

You can't go wrong with Crawford River and I've ordered this more than once. It's much easier drinking than your usual SSB, a much gentler wine with stone fruit / honeyish flavours.

D
David H.
Perfect aperitif

A really clean, crisp but not too acidic aperitif. More Bordeaux in style than Margaret River Sem Sauvs. but without the excessive oak.

“The 2023 season brought refined intensity to the Beta blend, with the saline acidity and mineral quality a highlight.”
Belinda Thomson, Vigneron

Season:
2023 was a tricky growing season, which in the end yielded pretty flavours and lively acidity across the board. We had a very wet start to Spring and late flowering, which then turned into a dry December and January. High rainfall in September made mowing a challenge! Just as we were starting to feel on top of everything in the vineyard, severe hailstorms on the 3rd and 4th of February caused major damage in the Semillon and obliterated the Cab Franc block — the high for those days was 11°C. Very good rainfall in February saved the day and meant canopy size increased, as did vine health, and we happily ripened the small amount of fruit.

Winery:
Hand-picked and whole bunch pressed, prior to a natural, short settle in stainless steel. Fermentation occurs in neutral oak, predominantly our 265L French oak cigar barrels. After approximately 10 months on lees, a selection of barrels is blended and settled in tank for about 6 months prior to bottling. Screwcap.

Vineyard:
This section of the vineyard was planted in 1994. We have always thought this block was special and capable of great things, but our excitement was elevated when drilling the posts, as fossilised sea shells in chalky limestone surfaced from only 500mm below ironstone-rich topsoil.

Winemaker’s Notes:
A little lighter on its feet than preceding vintages, perhaps, but equally matched in drinkability. Almond, cashew and honeydew melon are all present, along with the undertones of the well-integrated French oak. There's a lemon freshness and savoury, bay leaf quality too. Gently chewy, chalky and saline throughout. The time on lees is evident via the softness on the palate, along with the balance and persistence that goes with the inherent acidity.

Price Bracket $31 to $40
Type White
Body Medium Bodied
Variety Sauvignon Blanc
Country Australia
Region Henty
Australian State VIC
Feature Women in Wine
Reviewed By Halliday Wine Companion
Critic Score 95
Alcohol 12.5%
Size 750ml
Vintage 2023
Closure Screw Cap

Crawford River

Crawford River is very much a family operation. The talented Thomson clan have been producing wine from their beautiful home vineyard since 1985.

The Bordeaux varieties Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc thrive on the estate, but it's Riesling that they are most famous for.

They produce a range of styles of varying ages that are outstanding. Many consider them as one of the country's premier producers of the noble variety.

These are wines of purity and elegance. Small-batch, family-owned, traditional winemaking and good, honest farming is at the core of everything Crawford River does.

Belinda and John Thomson - Henty, VIC Crawford River

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