90 Points, Wine & Spirits Magazine
“Bright with aromas of quince and golden apple, this wheaty white has a waxy texture and a leesy savor.”
Winemaker Notes:
SMELLS LIKE: white flower, waxy & citrus notes, hint of minerality
TASTES LIKE: hints of sweet citrus, white peach, fresh melon
MOUTHFEEL: lush & viscous, bright acidity on the finish, a foodie’s wine!
DRINK WITH: scallops, seafood linguine, smoked salmon, pad thai
Vintage/Winemaking Notes
The 2018 Vintage
We had one of the coldest Aprils, but then one of the warmest Mays on record. Bloom began in late May and conditions were ideal. This, along with cooler June weather, contributed to above average berry and cluster sizes in some varietals.
July and August temperatures were warm with occasional heat spikes. As in recent years, there was smoke in the air at times from distant wild-fires but no taint has been noticed. By the second week of August, we cooled off considerably and ushered in one of the most ideal ripening seasons in recent history, and we saw near perfect conditions throughout the rest of the harvest. Below average days in September were followed by cool nights with large diurnal swings. That’s absolutely ideal. Our harvest wrapped up on October 15th and the wines are very well balanced with great fruit expression.
In the 2018 vintage, we had the right weather in the right order. You should make room in your cellar for some fantastic wines from this vintage. Big color, big flavors, and balanced tannins. A harvest to remember, indeed!
Viticulture
100% estate; sustainably farmed.
Founding member of VINEA.
Specs
Vintage: 2018
Varietals: 85% Sémillon, 15% Sauvignon Blanc
Vineyards: 100% Walla Walla Valley
Appellation: 63% Les Collines, 17% Goff, 15% Seven Hills, 5% Summit View
Oak Program: 100% French, 100% Neutral
Harvest Dates: 9/4-9/25/2018
Finished Alcohol: 13.9%
Production: 1355 cases
Included in the Box
4-bottles:
4x 2018 Amavi Cellars Sémillon, Walla Walla Valley
Case:
12x 2018 Amavi Cellars Sémillon, Walla Walla Valley
Amavi Cellars signifies love (amor) and life (vita) through our wines, which are 100% estate, 100% Certified Sustainable, and 100% Walla Walla Valley.
Located in the heart of Walla Walla wine country, our winery & tasting room offer sweeping views of surrounding Pepper Bridge Vineyard as well as the beautiful Blue Mountains. Dedicated stewards of the land, we are committed to making a positive impact both within our estate vineyards and within our community.
Quality, hospitality, and sustainability are our underlying values. Our estate vineyards: Les Collines, Seven Hills, Pepper Bridge, Octave, Goff, and Summit View, are farmed sustainably. We build up the soil’s health rather than deplete it and seek out earth-friendly alternatives to fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides. We are committed to not only preserving but also improving the land for future generations. And we insist on having a good time while we’re doing it all!
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MT, NV, NH, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OR, PA, TN, TX, VA, WA, WI, WY
Ooh, looks fun. Any PH or RS details to share? (I find them helpful, as I’m more a chenin blanc vs pinot grigio fan, while my roomie drinks more chards)
Hey hey! I’m a rat lite. Tasted at the Temecula gathering straight from a pretty freshly popped bottle. I believe this was my first go at Sémillon and I was having trouble picking out a big difference between this and a heavier weight Sauvignon Blanc.
Quite dry with no noticable grassiness. A little waxy like some Rhone whites which I liked. The finish had some lemony pith.
While the food was flowing, I did this without trying to pair. Perhaps that’s why it’s not my jam? The bitterness and weight would probably pair well with chicken and fishes, but that’s also my go-to for my white Rhones – I’ll admit I’m a creature of habit.
88 Points
Toast, fig and herb aromas lead to sleekly styled fruit flavors that taper toward the finish. It needs more time to come together, but there are good things going on. SS 10/1/19
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations)
2018 Amavi Cellars Semillon - $25 = 15.14%
Last night wifey and I opened a bottle of 2018 Amavi Cellars Semillon that we received for some rattage. This wine paired very well with our Thai food. Pale straw color. Initially we got a lot of fruit on the nose, more peach with us. Floral notes began to come out a bit later after dinner. Wifey took a sip and got apple, peach, and a tangy finish. She looked up and said, “It’s sweet?!, I thought you said this was going to be dry…” I look up, face red and mouth on fire from the spice slip, I take a refreshing sip. It had a sweetness to it from the fruit but finished off dry. I too got apples, peaches, pineapple, had a waxy viscosity to it and a tangy mouthwatering mineral finish. This wine reminded me of a SB. I had to save the rest of the bottle for later. After watching a sappy valentine’s day film, more light floral notes came through both on the nose and palate. We both liked this wine and thought it would be great to open up when wifey’s friends come over and order a bunch of seafood, even Thai or Chinese. This was the first time for the both of us to try a Semillon wine and a rare opportunity that we drink a WA wine. Thank You.
Back in the wine woot days, one of my favorite finds ever were the Semillons by Jeff Gaffner at Saxon Brown. I bought cases of it! Unfortunately for me, his celebrated Pinots have stolen the show, pushing Semillon out of the picture.
So I’m pleased to see this offered - thanks, Casemates. Perhaps I’ll find a new favorite.
Tasting Notes
90 Points, Wine & Spirits Magazine
“Bright with aromas of quince and golden apple, this wheaty white has a waxy texture and a leesy savor.”
Winemaker Notes:
SMELLS LIKE: white flower, waxy & citrus notes, hint of minerality
TASTES LIKE: hints of sweet citrus, white peach, fresh melon
MOUTHFEEL: lush & viscous, bright acidity on the finish, a foodie’s wine!
DRINK WITH: scallops, seafood linguine, smoked salmon, pad thai
Vintage/Winemaking Notes
The 2018 Vintage
We had one of the coldest Aprils, but then one of the warmest Mays on record. Bloom began in late May and conditions were ideal. This, along with cooler June weather, contributed to above average berry and cluster sizes in some varietals.
July and August temperatures were warm with occasional heat spikes. As in recent years, there was smoke in the air at times from distant wild-fires but no taint has been noticed. By the second week of August, we cooled off considerably and ushered in one of the most ideal ripening seasons in recent history, and we saw near perfect conditions throughout the rest of the harvest. Below average days in September were followed by cool nights with large diurnal swings. That’s absolutely ideal. Our harvest wrapped up on October 15th and the wines are very well balanced with great fruit expression.
In the 2018 vintage, we had the right weather in the right order. You should make room in your cellar for some fantastic wines from this vintage. Big color, big flavors, and balanced tannins. A harvest to remember, indeed!
Viticulture
100% estate; sustainably farmed.
Founding member of VINEA.
Specs
Included in the Box
Price Comparison
$292.28 a Case at Amavi Cellars
About The Winery
Winery: Amavi Cellars
Amavi Cellars signifies love (amor) and life (vita) through our wines, which are 100% estate, 100% Certified Sustainable, and 100% Walla Walla Valley.
Located in the heart of Walla Walla wine country, our winery & tasting room offer sweeping views of surrounding Pepper Bridge Vineyard as well as the beautiful Blue Mountains. Dedicated stewards of the land, we are committed to making a positive impact both within our estate vineyards and within our community.
Quality, hospitality, and sustainability are our underlying values. Our estate vineyards: Les Collines, Seven Hills, Pepper Bridge, Octave, Goff, and Summit View, are farmed sustainably. We build up the soil’s health rather than deplete it and seek out earth-friendly alternatives to fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides. We are committed to not only preserving but also improving the land for future generations. And we insist on having a good time while we’re doing it all!
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, MD, MI, MN, MO, MT, NV, NH, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OR, PA, TN, TX, VA, WA, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Thursday, March 12th - Monday, March 16th
Amavi Cellars Sémillon
4 bottles for $54.99 $13.75/bottle + $2/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $139.99 $11.67/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
2018 Amavi Cellars Sémillon
Ooh, looks fun. Any PH or RS details to share? (I find them helpful, as I’m more a chenin blanc vs pinot grigio fan, while my roomie drinks more chards)
Hey hey! I’m a rat lite. Tasted at the Temecula gathering straight from a pretty freshly popped bottle. I believe this was my first go at Sémillon and I was having trouble picking out a big difference between this and a heavier weight Sauvignon Blanc.
Quite dry with no noticable grassiness. A little waxy like some Rhone whites which I liked. The finish had some lemony pith.
While the food was flowing, I did this without trying to pair. Perhaps that’s why it’s not my jam? The bitterness and weight would probably pair well with chicken and fishes, but that’s also my go-to for my white Rhones – I’ll admit I’m a creature of habit.
And from Wine Enthusiast:
88 Points
Toast, fig and herb aromas lead to sleekly styled fruit flavors that taper toward the finish. It needs more time to come together, but there are good things going on. SS 10/1/19
https://www.winemag.com/buying-guide/amavi-2018-semillon-walla-walla-valley-wa/
and a note from Winery Reflections (???):
https://wineryreflections.com/amavi-cellars-semillon
also if you have 7 minutes or so with nothing to do:
from Odedi (who?? I’ve no idea):
https://winesipping.wordpress.com/2019/06/10/amavi-cellars-estate-vineyards-semillon-2018-walla-walla-valley-washington-state/
fwiw
I can’t comment on this wine, but I really enjoyed their Syrah that was offered here. They seem to produce very nice wines.
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations)
2018 Amavi Cellars Semillon - $25 = 15.14%
Last night wifey and I opened a bottle of 2018 Amavi Cellars Semillon that we received for some rattage. This wine paired very well with our Thai food. Pale straw color. Initially we got a lot of fruit on the nose, more peach with us. Floral notes began to come out a bit later after dinner. Wifey took a sip and got apple, peach, and a tangy finish. She looked up and said, “It’s sweet?!, I thought you said this was going to be dry…” I look up, face red and mouth on fire from the spice slip, I take a refreshing sip. It had a sweetness to it from the fruit but finished off dry. I too got apples, peaches, pineapple, had a waxy viscosity to it and a tangy mouthwatering mineral finish. This wine reminded me of a SB. I had to save the rest of the bottle for later. After watching a sappy valentine’s day film, more light floral notes came through both on the nose and palate. We both liked this wine and thought it would be great to open up when wifey’s friends come over and order a bunch of seafood, even Thai or Chinese. This was the first time for the both of us to try a Semillon wine and a rare opportunity that we drink a WA wine. Thank You.
Sounds really interesting. My wife and I have not tried a Sémillon. Good rattage here so I might pull the trigger on this…
/image thinking
Back in the wine woot days, one of my favorite finds ever were the Semillons by Jeff Gaffner at Saxon Brown. I bought cases of it! Unfortunately for me, his celebrated Pinots have stolen the show, pushing Semillon out of the picture.
So I’m pleased to see this offered - thanks, Casemates. Perhaps I’ll find a new favorite.
Amavi has never disappointed. In for a case.
Agree…can’t go wrong with Amavi Cellars
foggy sinkable tinkerbell
I’m hoping it’s about time to see Amavi syrah offered. Any chance?
@winedavid49