Sémillon (France)
In France, the Sémillon grape is grown mostly in Bordeaux.
Typical Flavors
 Lemon |
 Apple |
 Pear |
 Apricot |
 Grass |
 Vanilla |
 Butter |
 Candied Ginger |
Typical Sémillon flavors are Lemon, Apple, Pear, Apricot, and Green Papaya, with notes of Grass and Vanilla, combined with a Waxy taste (Lanolin).
Depending on production and climate, Sémillon can range from tasting like zesty Sauvignon Blanc to creamy oaked Chardonnay.
Profile
Sémillon often has a full body much like Chardonnay, but with flavors more like Pinot Gris or Sauvignon Blanc.
| SUGAR | Dry | ||
| BODY | Medium - Full | ||
| FRUIT | Medium | ||
| ACIDITY | Medium - Low | ||
| |||
Food Pairing
 Shrimps |
 Fish |
 Seafood |
 Lobster |
 Tapas |
 Salads |
 Pasta |
 Rice |
 Chili |
 Chicken |
 Pork |
 Veal |
Semillon is "The ultimate food wine".
Unoaked Semillon can be Fresh and Zippy. Perfect for White Fish and Shellfish.
Lightly oaked, it can be perfect for Richer Seafood like Lobster and Salmon.
More oaked, Semillon pairs well with Chicken, Veal, and Pork.
Pairing Suggestions
Excellent Pairing:
Clams. Mussels. Shellfish.
Lobster. Salmon.
Pork. Veal. Chicken.
Pasta Salads.
Cheese:
Blue Cheese.
Roquefort. Gorgonzola.
Danablue. Stilton.
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The Ideal Glass
The Montrachet glass is perfect for full-bodied white wines such as:
The wide bowl steers the wine to the sensitive parts of the tongue, ensuring that the acidity creates a harmonious balance with the sweet aromas of aged wines.
The wide bowl allows the full bouquet of aromas to develop, and minimise the risk for it to be over-concentrated.
Blends
Semillon-Sauvignon blends such as white Bordeaux blends, are typically oaked.
These wines pair well with rich seafood like crab, fish pie, and salmon dishes, as well as with spicy pork, and Indian dishes with curries, mustard sauces, or coconut milk sauces.
Bordeaux
Bordeaux in Southwest France is the most famous wine region in the world.
The river Gironde splits the area in the famous Left Bank (Southwest) and the Right Bank (Northeast) where the two famous, but very different, Bordeaux Blends are produced.
The Left Bank
On the Left Bank, Cabernet Sauvignon is the primary grape.
A typical top-quality "Bordeaux Blend" consists of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc, and 15% Merlot.
Left Bank wines are often spicy with bold tannins and are good candidates for aging.
The Right Bank
On the Right Bank, Merlot is the primary grape.
A typical Right Bank blend consists of 70% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon.
Right Bank wines are also bold, but smoother, with softer tannins and typical Merlot fruity flavors. They can age, but are more "drink me soon" style.
Left Bank Wines
Bordeaux Rouge
Cabernet Sauvignon
Médoc
Margaux
Graves
Pessac-Léognan
Right Bank Wines
Bordeaux is dominated by red wine. Nearly 90% of all Bordeaux wine is red.
The most planted grape is Merlot, followed by Cabernet Sauvignon.
Red Grapes
66% Merlot
23% Cabernet Sauvignon
10% Cabernet Franc
2% Malbec
1% Petit Verdot
White Grapes
47% Sémillon
45% Sauvignon Blanc
5% Muscadelle
Bordeaux Blanc
Bordeaux Blanc
Pessac Léognan
Entre-Deux-Mers
Sémillon
Sweet Wines
Sauternes (Sweet)
Sparkling
Bordeaux Left Bank
On the Left Bank, Cabernet Sauvignon is the primary grape.
A typical top-quality "Bordeaux Blend" consists of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc, and 15% Merlot.
Left Bank wines are often spicy with bold tannins and are good candidates for aging.
The terroir is rocky, with gravel (stones) and some limestone.
In the wine world, this bad soil means good wine because the more the roots have to struggle, the better the quality. Rocky soils and hillsides give a good drainage (too much water gives a watery berry).
Famous appellations are:
- Haut-Médoc
- Margaux (Château Margaux)
- St.Estephe
- St.Julien
- Pauillac (Château Lafite-Rothschild, Château Mouton Rothschild and Château Latour)
- Pessac Leognan (Château Haut-Brion)
Flavors:
Young: Spices. Earth. Tobacco.
Aged: Leather. Smoke. Truffle. Herbs. Cigar box.
Bordeaux Right Bank
On the Right Bank, Merlot is the primary grape.
A typical Right Bank blend consists of 70% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon.
Right Bank wines are also bold, but smoother, with softer tannins and typical Merlot fruity flavors. They can age, but are more "drink me soon" style.
The terroir on the right bank is less difficult, with less gravel and more clay and limestone.
Famous appellations are:
- St. Emilion (Cheval Blanc)
- Pomerol (Petrus)
Flavors:
Young: Black Cherry. Red Plum. Flowers. Chocolate. Licorice.
Aged: Earth. Truffle. Dark Chocolate. Tobacco.
White Bordeaux
White Bordeaux uses Sauvignon Blanc and Semillion as primary grapes.