In Bordeaux, Semillon is usually blended with Sauvignon Blanc, a racy, assertive varietal that is the perfect foil for Semillon’s soft honeyed lushness. When Semillon dominates the blend or is bottled on its own (as it often is in Australia) the style follows closely the characteristics in the Flavor Descriptors section.

Semillon also is the main component in Bordeaux’s great dessert wine Sauternes, a decadently unctuous concoction that can age for decades. Flavors follow closely the dessert wine description in the Flavor Descriptors section.