Semillon
(sem-eel-YHON)
Moldy-Goldie
An essential white grape of
Bordeaux,
Semillon is a golden-berried goddess, producing some of the longest-lasting
white wines ever made. It's the pride and joy of areas like
Sauternes
and Barsac for its ability to incur botrytis, or noble rot. The grape takes
well to the fungus and in turn produces rich, golden, nectar-like wines that
are truly decadent.
Notable Facts
The grape is a heavier grape, with low acids and an almost oily texture. It's
easy to grow and high-yielding, although in Bordeaux, the vines are older and
produce less fruit so that the grapes on the vine have more flavor. Semillon
can in fact produce a dry wine of high quality. The great dry white wines of
Bordeaux are made with up to 100% Semillon, although Sauvignon Blanc is often
a blending partner. Semillon has also found a happy home in the Hunter Valley
region of Australia, where it is sometimes blended with
Sauvignon Blanc.
Summing it up
Successful Sites:
Bordeaux, Australia, California
Common Descriptors:
Sweet Styles: honey, beeswax, vanilla, lanolin, toast
Dry Styles: lemon, stone fruit,
grass