Wine
Semillon
The great white varietal of Bordeaux (along with Sauvignon Blanc), this can be a dry full-bodied table wine or an unctuously sweet dessert wine, both of which can typically age well.
Flavor Descriptors
When produced in a dry style, this is typically round, lush, and medium- to full-bodied with notes of fig, melon, pear and honey. Semillon aged in oak displays the expected vanilla creaminess while dessert wines made from Semillon offer honeyed melon, dried figs, and loads of aromatic peach and apricot.
Food Pairings
Dry
Mildly spiced Asian dishes, chicken teriyaki, grilled pork skewers.
Sweet
Foie gras, biscotti, crème brulee, blue cheeses.
Buying, Storing, & Serving
Both dry and dessert Semillon should be served chilled.
Most dry Semillon is ready to drink when released, although the better French examples can age up to a decade. Dessert wines can age incredibly well, easily a decade or more, although most can be enjoyed when released, which is typically three to four years from vintage date.
Store bottles in a cool, dark place. While it is now common for wine makers to use plastic corks or screw-top closures which may be stored vertically or horizontally, those with the traditional corks should be laid on their sides to keep them moist.