Sauvignon blanc and semillon make for a fascinating mix. The blend of these two grapes works well, in part, because, like the characters Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett play in the film The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, they age in opposite directions. Sauvignon blanc begins life fully mature with exhilarating vigour, acidic verve and flagrant aromatics. But these lose their power and maturity with time and it typically devolves into a simple, one-dimensional tart wine incapable of speaking. Semillon, on the other hand, begins life with a scrunched-up face. It's a tart, tight little wine but its beauty, scope and complexity emerge with the passage of time - just as sauvignon blanc begins to fade. Australia's Margaret River and Bordeaux in France are the only wine regions to have made this Benjamin Button combo their signature blend. Below is a selection from Margaret River to give you a view of Benjamin and Daisy at their various stages of evolution.
Cullen Wines sauvignon blanc/semillon 2008
Pale gold colour with complex and delicate pear, and citrus fruit, with toasty nuances that build in power on the palate. Weighty body balanced by snappy acidity and a honeyed wink at the finish. Subtle, elegant and classy - exactly what one would expect from one of the region's finest winemakers Vanya Cullen.
Available for HK$188 at Watson's Wine Cellar (tel: 2606 8828)
Suckfizzle sauvignon blanc/semillon 2008
Pale, lemon-gold colour. Relatively quiet nose but this wine shows its pedigree on the palate with toasty lemon-biscuit and beeswax flavours followed by a thyme and sage herbal flourish. Layered and multidimensional with excellent flavour persistence.
Available for HK$279 at Oliver's (tel: 2810 7710)