Semillon

Pronounced: sem-ee-yon

History: Another great French dry white variety including the whites of Bordeaux.

Description: Dry white table wine with ageing potential. The Semillon grape is distinctive in that it lends itself to the production of a variety of different wine styles. From the Bordeaux region of France come the great Sauternes and Barsac. These wines are produced from overripe Semillon grapes which have been affected by botrytis cinerea and are hand-picked as ready. When blended with smaller quantities of Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle the wine produced is viscous with a rich, fruity nose, a smooth, full-bodied, long lasting and fruity — often citrus-like — palate. When the grape is unaffected by the botrytis cinerea the juice is used to make dry white wood-fermented wines with a distinct palate such as the wine of Graves, also from the Bordeaux area.

Taste/Aromas: musky, herbaceous, sometimes lemon, with a nice crispness to it.

Regions: Margaret River, Barossa Valley, Hunter Valley.

Cellaring:. Semillon ages beautifully. But, really, there is no time like the present!

Food: Light pasta, ham, pork, seafood, soup, .turkey lighter flavoured cheeses