Semillon: Wine Styles, 10 Best Bottles (2023), Tasting Notes

Semillon is a white wine grape used to make expensive, highly-collectible Bordeaux dessert wines like Sauternes. It’s also one of the famous trio of grapes used to make dry white Bordeaux blends.

So what is it that makes Semillon wine so irresistible? Which bottles should you buy now?

Let’s explore the characteristics of the Semillon grape, where it grows, and the best Semillon wines to buy in 2023. You’ll also discover the easiest way to invest in these bottles.

The Versatile Semillon Grape

The Semillon grape variety is predominantly used in the Southern Bordeaux region to make dry and sweet white wines. The grape is mainly grown in France and Australia, and was also popular in South Africa. 

Semillon grapes have naturally low acidity and blend well with Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle to produce classic Bordeaux white wine that’s full-bodied with hints of honey, citrus fruit, apple, and earthiness.

The wine grape is also used to make single varietal wine which is as full-bodied as Chardonnay but with a sensual flavor profile similar to Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Gris.

Let’s dive into the origins of the Semillon grape in different parts of the world.

A Brief History of The Semillon Grape

Semillon has been grown in the Bordeaux region for over 400 years. It is believed to have originated in Saint Emilion in 1736 and was known as Semillon de Saint Emilion. 

During the 1800s, Semillon grew immensely popular, and its vines spread all over the world, including Australia. 

Semillon expanded to South Africa in the 1820s and covered almost 90% of it’s vineyard area. The grape was initially called Groendruif (‘green grape’) and, later, Wyndruif “wine grape”) after a red mutation of Semillon. However, today, only 1% of South Africa’s vineyard land is planted with this white wine grape.

In the 1950s, 75% of the vineyards in Chile were made up of Semillon. 

After World War II, the Semillon plantings in France began to decline since the grape was deemed inadequate in intensity and complexity. This caused ripple effects in other regions, resulting in a decreased popularity of the grape worldwide. 

During the mid-1900s, Australian Semillon grew famous, thanks to the exceptional dry white wines made in the Hunter Valley region. Australia’s Hunter Valley wines were called different names, including Chablis, White Burgundy, and Riesling, based on tiny style variations. 

Fun fact: Interestingly, Semillon Rouge is a synonym for Merlot!

Where Does Semillon Grow?

Semillon spans about 50,000 acres worldwide spread across the following wine regions:

1. France

Semillon is the third most planted wine grape in France. The Semillon vineyards span over 28,200 acres across the country. The Semillon Bordeaux blend dry wine (Bordeaux blanc) made mainly in the Pessac-Léognan, Graves, and Entre-Deux-Mers appellations.

Semillon is the dominant grape used in sweet white wines from Sauternes, Barsac and Cérons. In 2008, the decrease in Semillon plantings urged a few winemakers who produce Bordeaux wines to start growing clones of the grape.

2. Australia

There are 15,500 acres of Semillon vineyards in Australia. It’s a popular grape variety that grows mainly in Hunter Valley. Hunter Semillon wine was also known as Hunter River Riesling for a long time. 

Semillon is also used in Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay wine blends to make commercial white wine. Many of the Hunter Valley Semillon dry white wines are bottle-aged and have complex flavors.

In Hunter Valley, the Semillon grape is also popular in the regions of Margaret River in Western Australia and Barossa Valley in South Australia. The climate in Barossa Valley is ideal for growing Australian Semillon grapes with high acidity.

3. South Africa

Semillon vineyards in South Africa are small - with a total size of only about 2,900 acres. The country produces exceptional Semillon blends that are citrusy with a crisp texture. 

4. Other Wine Regions

The other regions that grow small quantities of Semillon are:

• USA: The grape is mainly grown in California and Washington State
• Argentina: The grape grows in Rio Negro Valley and Mendoza (Uco Valley.)
• Chile: Semillon vines grow in Itata Valley.
• Canada: The grape grows in Niagara and British Columbia.
• New Zealand: Semillon grows on the east coast of North Island.

Semillon Viticulture and Winemaking

Semillon is easy to grow and can effortlessly produce about eight tons of grapes per acre. The grape thrives in climates with sunny days and cool nights. 

In warmer climates, the grape is harvested when it’s not fully ripe, giving the resulting wine more acidity. Cooler climates allow for more floral notes.

Semillon grapes are prone to noble rot (botrytis cinerea) as they have thin skin and grow in bunches with little airflow in the vineyard. This fungus causes the grapes to dry and wither on the vine, resulting in a concentrated sugar content and flavor.

Botrytis thrives in climates with cool, damp mornings and hot, dry afternoons. These conditions ensure the noble rot does not turn into “grey rot” (a fungus grape disease which gives the wine a vinegary flavor.)

During the harvesting period in the vineyard, the grapes take on a pink-copper hue and develop darker colors when botrytis develops (usually in the late harvest period.) 

Once the winemaker carefully vinifies the grapes, and the juice goes through a long aging process in new oak barrels.

Styles and Flavor Profiles of Semillon Wines

Semillon wines are mainly produced in two distinctive wine styles:

1. Dry white wine

Semillon is used in the production of beautiful dry white wine blends (or Bordeaux Blanc.) 

These are the most popular Semillon blends:

• Sauvignon Blanc - Muscadelle - Semillon Blend: The grape is blended with Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle grapes to make elegant Bordeaux wines. These dry white wines are very famous in Graves, Bordeaux and Margaret River, Australia.
• Chardonnay - Sauvignon - Semillon Blend: This New World dry Semillon wine blend is popular in Australia, South Africa, and California. Semillon’s fruitiness and nut flavors combine well with the bold, tropical flavors of Chardonnay. 

2. Dessert wine (sweet wine)

Semillon is used in the sweet wine Sauternes, together with Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle. 

Some White Bordeaux sweet wines can include small amounts of Sauvignon Gris, Colombard, Merlon Blanc, and Ugni Blanc. 

Semillon also works well on its own as a single varietal dessert wine. The noble rot affected Semillon grapes give the varietal dessert wine enhanced sweet flavors and concentrated aromas. 

Sauternes has distinct flavors of apricot, orange zest, lemon peel, caramel, minerals, and honey.

 Aside from Sauternes, Semillon is also one of the main ingredients in sweet wines like:

• Cadillac
• Cerons
• Barsac
• Loupiac
• Sainte-Crox-du-Mont
• Premieres Côtes de Bordeaux

Here are our best food pairing suggestions for Semillon wine.

The Best Food Pairing To Try With Semillon Wine

Semillon wine pairs well with most dishes: 

• Meat Pairings: Enjoy a glass of Semillon wine with chicken, turkey, pork, and foie gras. This wine also goes well with all sorts of fish dishes, Asian foods, and sushi.
• Cheese Pairings: Put together a cheese board with gruyere, cheddar, compte, and blue cheese.
• Vegetarian Pairings: Spicey, roasted vegetables and salads with citrus dressings are fantastic with Semillon wine.
• Desserts: Crepes with caramel cream or salted caramel are delicious with Semillon sweet wine blends. 

Ready for the best part?

10 Semillon Wines To Buy in 2023

These are some of the best Semillon wines to add to your collection:

1. 1961 Chateau Haut-Brion Blanc, Pessac-Leognan, France

Here we have a dry wine with mild acidity and medium body. On the palate, are dominant lemon and lanolin flavour notes with sweet fruit flavors and a beautiful structure.

Price of 1961 Chateau Haut-Brion Blanc, Pessac-Leognan, France: $2,897

2. 2009 Chateau Coutet Cuvee Madame, Barsac, France

This single varietal wine has a lemon hue with an aroma of tropical fruit, peach blossoms, and jasmine tones. Notes of citrus, spice, honey, and a ripe fruit flavor, round off the palate. 

Price of 2009 Chateau Coutet Cuvee Madame, Barsac, France: $397

3. 1959 Chateau Caillou, Sauternes, France

This delicious Semillon wine has hints of honey, cinnamon, lemon, and citrus flavors on the nose. This Bordeaux blend is multi-dimensional with acidity and silky tannins. 

Price of 1959 Chateau Caillou, Sauternes, France: $306

4. 1847 Chateau d'Yquem Sauternes, France

Here is an amber-colored wine with pure aromas of raspberries, vanilla, and honey. It has a sweet palate with hints of camphor and cloves. The wine is concentrated and harmonious with a lovely texture.

Price of 1847 Chateau d'Yquem Sauternes, France: $111,403

5. 1996 Denis Dubourdieu Chateau Doisy-Daene L'Extravagant de Doisy-Daene, Sauternes, France

This impressive wine has some citrus flavors and a subtle oak aroma. It has a silky texture, fantastic acidity, and crisp freshness.

Price of 1996 Denis Dubourdieu Chateau Doisy-Daene L'Extravagant de Doisy-Daene, Sauternes, France: $620

6. 1947 Chateau de Fargues, Sauternes, France

Here’s a wine with incredible depth and a complex palate of lemon, apricots, tropical fruit, and citrus fruit. It has a honeyed texture with superb balance and a long finish. 

Price of 1947 Chateau de Fargues, Sauternes, France: $1,045

7. 1921 Chateau Climens, Barsac, France

This wine has aromas of dried plum, apples, creme brulee, and butter notes. Not overly sweet, this powerful wine has a long finish and nice acidity. 

Price of 1921 Chateau Climens, Barsac, France: $2,325

8. 2018 Tyrrells Wines Johnno's Semillon, Hunter Valley, Australia

This young Semillon wine (Hunter Semillon) packs a punch with an aroma of citrus, lemon, lanolin, and apple. It has a hint of sweetness as well as an exquisite depth, minerality, and high acidity.

Price of  2018 Tyrrells Wines Johnno's Semillon, Hunter Valley, Australia: $134

9. 1959 Chateau d'Yquem 'Y' Ygrec, Bordeaux, France

This classic white Bordeaux blend has notes of dried citrus peel and dried apricot flavour on the palate. The wine is rich with butterscotch and caramel nose, accompanied by good acidity and balance.

Price of 1959 Chateau d'Yquem 'Y' Ygrec, Bordeaux, France: $793

10. 1995 Chateau Tirecul-la-Graviere Cuvee Madame, Monbazillac, France

This is an extraordinary dessert wine with a strong aroma of brioche, caramelized peach, apricot jam, and honey notes. This white Bordeaux blend has tangerine and spicy oak notes along with bright definition and great body. 

Price of 1995 Chateau Tirecul-la-Graviere Cuvee Madame, Monbazillac, France: $343

Now, should you invest in Semillon wine? 

Let’s find out.

Investing in Semillon Wines

You can enjoy young Semillon wines like Sauternes, Barsac, Hunter Valley, Margaret River, and Alexander Valley. But, they also age beautifully, making them great for long-term investment. 

The dry Semillon white wine produced in Australia’s Hunter Valley can age for about 10-20 years. Many botrytized white wines like Sauternes can age up to 30 years. 

Semillon wines (especially Sauternes) are known to be expensive and also appreciate in value over time. For instance, the 1947 Chateau de Fargues, Sauternes rose by 9.7% from $950 to $1,043 (2019-2021.) 

Semillon wines are hugely popular at auctions too:

• At Christie’s in 2010, the Liquid Gold Collection of Chateau d’Yquem (made up of 40 magnums and 128 bottles with vintages from three centuries) sold for $1,035,222.
• In 2013, a case of 1986 Château de Fargues sold for $671 at the same auction house.

So, are you keen to add a bottle or two of fine Semillon wine to your portfolio? 

The caveat is that discovering authentic investment-grade wine on your own can be challenging. 

So, what’s the best way to do it?

Invest in Semillon and Other Wines Through Vinovest

Vinovestis a leading wine investment platform that offers the easiest way to source, manage, and grow a portfolio of investment-grade wines.

How it all works

Get started in four easy steps:

1. Sign up and enter your details.
2. Answer some questions about your risk appetite and investment preferences.
3. Add $1,000 (minimum) to your account on Vinovest.
4. Let Vinovest curate your collection of wines as you enjoy a glass of Merlot!

What are the benefits?

Vinovest offers these fantastic benefits:

1. Incredible Prices

Vinovest's prices are excellent, and you can source the wine from the industry’s best winemakers and wine merchants. 

2. Easy Buying and Selling

Vinovest’s AI-based platform allows you to buy and sell your favorite wines - with just a few clicks.

3. Reasonable fees

Vinovest has lower charges than many other wine investment companies. You only pay a 2.5% fee every year (1.9% for a portfolio over $50,000). This total includes buying and selling wines, storage, insurance, wine fraud detection, and portfolio management. 

4. Authenticity

Vinovest ensures your wine's authenticity by tracing its provenance so you'll never have to worry about buying counterfeit wines ever again.

5. Curated Portfolio

Vinovest’s wine expert team will do all the complex research and calculations for you. So you don’t have to be a sommelier yourself to build a winning portfolio of wines! 

6. Superb Storage 

Vinovest will store all your wine bottles in bonded warehouses under excellent conditions (vibration, light, humidity, and temperature.)

7. International Network

You’ll be able to access private wine company sales, limited vintage releases, and upcoming vineyards. You can also join wine tasting events with notable winemakers.

8. Swift Delivery

Vinovest will deliver your bottle of wine anywhere you want. So you can go ahead and enjoy your favorite bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon, gift it to a friend, or have it delivered to your buyer.

Semillon Wine: Worthy of Your Precious Collection!

Semillon wine is delicious and can age beautifully, particularly the sweet wines like Sauternes. 

And, if you’re considering investing in a bottle of prestigious Semillon wine, all you need to do is sign up with Vinovest right away.