Sémillon

Sémillon is two grapes in one. In Bordeaux it is the quiet partner that gives Sauvignon Blanc body and ageing potential, and the principal grape behind Sauternes' great sweet wines. In Australia's Hunter Valley it produces a distinctive low-alcohol dry wine that tastes neutral when young and astonishing after a few years in bottle. The spelling shifts depending on where the wine comes from.

The grape

Sémillon is a white grape that grows primarily in moderate and warm climates. In youth, Sémillon wines typically show simple primary flavours of apple, lemon, and grass. Depending on ripeness, the wines range from medium to high in acidity and from light to full in body.

The structural profile is unspectacular when young but the variety has a hidden gift: the best examples age beautifully, evolving complex tertiary notes of dried fruit, nuts, and honey in the bottle.

The grape is also susceptible to botrytis (noble rot), which underpins its role in the world's great sweet wines.

France: Bordeaux

The most important French region for Sémillon is Bordeaux, where it appears in both dry and sweet wines.

Bordeaux AOC dry whites

Sémillon is commonly blended with Sauvignon Blanc. Sémillon contributes body and ageing potential; Sauvignon Blanc contributes acidity and aromatic intensity. Very good or outstanding examples are often matured in oak and can develop in the bottle for many years.

Sauternes AOC

A small sub-region of Bordeaux that produces sweet white wine from grapes concentrated by botrytis. Sémillon is particularly susceptible to botrytis, so it is the most important variety grown there. A typical Sauternes is sweet, medium to high alcohol, full-bodied with balancing high acidity. Pronounced flavours of stone fruit (apricot) plus oak character (smoke, vanilla) from maturation. Outstanding quality. Can mature for many years, developing complex tertiary character (dried fruit, honey, caramel).

Australia

Australia has significant Semillon plantings. Used for sweet botrytised wines (often blended with Sauvignon Blanc) and for several dry styles.

Hunter Valley

Produces a distinctive style of dry, single-varietal Semillon. Light body, low alcohol. The warm Hunter climate would normally suggest big rich whites, but here the grapes are picked early - while sugar levels are still low and acidity is high. The wines are made in inert vessels and bottled young. At first these wines are quite neutral; with several years of bottle age they develop pronounced and complex flavours of honey and nuts. One of the most distinctive ageing transformations in the wine world.

Barossa Valley

Made in a number of styles, ranging from wines very similar to the Hunter Valley type, through to wines that are full-bodied and oak-matured.

Three grapes done. The fourth is Furmint, which is barely planted outside one Hungarian region but produces one of the world's great sweet wines.