Sémillon
Sémillon is a plump white grape popular in Bordeaux and Australia. It is used to make both dry and sweet wines, with its most popular incarnation as the base for Sauternes. It is thick-skinned and relatively easy to cultivate with a good resistance to disease and a propensity to ripen early. Outside of Australia’s Hunter Valley, Sémillon typically produces wines that are low in acid with a round mouth, and as a result is commonly blended with more assertively aromatic and flavorful varieties such as Sauvignon Blanc. You can use Wine Enthusiast’s online Buying Guide to find the top-rated Sémillon among our extensive Sémillon wine reviews and easy-to-use database. Our Sémillon reviews will give you a general idea what to expect from wines made from Sémillon, and will help you find one that best suits your needs.
L'Ecole No. 41 2003 Seven Hills Vineyard Sémillon (Walla Walla Valley (WA))
- Editors' Choice
- $20
A young and lush Semillon, this shows lush, ripe, rich, round, peachy/citrus fruit. Barrel fermented, it hints at interesting cocoa/nougat flavors also, but the pure, round fruit is what really stands out. Lovely hints of honey streak through the finish.
— P.G.
(4/1/2005)
Amavi Cellars 2004 Sémillon (Columbia Valley (WA))
- $20
A fine effort, 100% varietal, that showcases why this grape loves Washington soil. Pear and pineapple mix with citrus zest; there is a lively, refreshing acidity, and the barrels softened up rather than flavored the wine. Flavors are crystal clear, leesy and long-lasting.
— P.G.
(4/1/2006)
Novelty Hill 2005 Stillwater Creek Vineyard Sémillon (Columbia Valley (WA))
- $16
This is just about perfect Sémillon— the gorgeous fruit has more flesh and breadth with flavors suggesting ripe fig, melon and citrus. The use of oak is judicious and thoughtful; it adds grace notes without dominating. You can’t help but wonder why this grape remains such a novelty (except, ironically, at Novelty Hill!). It’s seductive, delicious and unique.
— P.G.
(12/1/2007)
Beresan 2006 Sémillon (Walla Walla Valley (WA))
- Editors' Choice
- $18
This is a really luscious wine—100% varietal—with unusual richness. The flavors are dense and detailed, a mix of sweet grain, clover and beeswax along with lychee, pear, white peach and pink grapefruit. Smooth and full-bodied, it keeps on going through a lingering, lightly honeyed finish. The label is a colorful drawing of a blonde angel surrounded by stars.
— P.G.
(3/1/2008)
Amavi Cellars 2008 Sémillon (Walla Walla Valley (WA))
- Editors' Choice
- $20
It’s a brilliant gold color, luscious, with spicy/toasty aromas and a hint of leesy character. The fruit is a complex mix of apricot, pineapple, and melon, with excellent acidity, and the Sauvignon Blanc gives it a melony streak.
— P.G.
(11/1/2009)
Andis 2011 Bill Dillian Vineyard Sémillon (Amador County)
- $19
This young, delicious Sémillon is creamy yet bright, complex, pretty and crisply sweet—like biting into a just-picked fig. Light in alcohol, this baby can be sipped all night long.
— V.B.
(8/1/2012)
Cinnabar 2009 Luchsinger Vineyards Sémillon (Lake County)
- Online Exclusive
- $48
This late-harvest Sémillon is thick with honey and baked apple goodness, gorgeous cinnamon in color and deliciously balanced between sweetness and spice. Incredibly yummy and light, with 25% Sauvignon Blanc blended in.
— V.B.
(2/1/2012)
Ardenvoir 2007 Sémillon (Columbia Valley (WA))
- Editors' Choice
- $22
Silky and luscious, this extraordinary Sémillon from the makers of the Chateau Rollat red wines sends up cascading scents of orange blossom, orange peel, citrus and light tropical, moving into the mouth with beautifully integrated fruits dappled with honey and tea. Elegant and impressively long, it concludes with a light kiss of toast.
— P.G.
(3/1/2009)
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