Semillon Flashcards
Where does the Semillon grape grow?
Moderate and warm climates.
What primary flavors does Semillon carry in its youth?
Lemon, Grass, and Apple.
What is the acidity (range) of Semillon?
Medium-high acidity.
What body do Semillon wines have?
Can range from light body to full body.
Some examples can age really well. In the bottle, what are some flavors that can develop?
Dried fruits, nuts, and honey.
Some examples can age really well. In the bottle, what are some flavors that can develop?
Dried fruits, nuts, and honey.
What affects Semillon acidity?
Ripeness.
Can Semillon age well?
Yes, some examples can age very well.
What countries are the main growers of Semillon?
France and Australia.
What is the most important region in France for Semillon?
Bordeaux.
What styles of Semillon wines are produced in Bordeaux?
Dry and sweet.
For ‘Bordeaux AOC’ what grape is Bordeaux usually blended with?
Sauvignon Blanc.
What style of wine is produced (with Semillon) in ‘Sauternes AOC’?
Sweet wine.
What is special about the grapes used in ‘Sauternes AOC’ sweet wines?
They have been concentrated by botrytis/noble rot.
Where is ‘Sauternes AOC’?
Bordeaux.
Is Semillon susceptible to noble rot?
Yes - that’s why it’s the most important grape variety grown in Sauternes.
Describe the structure of a typical Sauternes sweet wine.
It is:
- sweet.
- medium to high in alcohol.
- full-body.
- high acidity.
What flavors are typical in a Sauternes sweet wine?
Pronounced: stone fruit (apricot), oak (smoke, vanilla).
What is the highest quality of Sauternes AOC sweet wine you can find?
Very good or outstanding, developing tertiary flavors after years in bottle (dried fruit, honey, caramek).
In Australia, which grape variety is commonly blended with Semillon?
Sauvignon Blanc.
What styles of wine are produced with Semillon in Australia?
Botrysed sweet wines, and dry wines (of various styles).
In the Hunter Valley region in Australia, what style of wine is produced?
Dry, single-varietal wine. Semillon with a light body and high acidity is used.
In the Hunter Valley region in Australia, what style of wine is produced?
Dry, single-varietal wine. Semillon with a light body and high acidity is used.
(These grapes have been harvested while low in sugar and acidic.)
What is the climate of Hunter Valley, Australia?
Warm.
How is Hunter Valley Semillon wine made?
They are made in inert vessels and bottles young.
Their initially neutral flavors develop nicely over several years and eventually become pronounced: complex honey and nuts.
Other than Hunter Valley, what is another important Australian region for Semillon?
Barossa Valley.
(A variety of styles produced here, oaked and unoaked, etc.)
