Tag Archives: semillon

Chateau d’Yquem 2010, Sauternes, France

15 Sunday May 2022

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There’s dessert wines and then there is Chateau d’Yquem.  Head and shoulders above the rest it is the only Supérieur Premier Cru in the region.  This botrytised wine was still very young but we got exactly what we wanted out of it-

Deep gold colored. Honey, apricot, lemon marmalade, orange preserves, white blossom, nuts, super sweet with medium (+) acidity.  Full bodied. Youthful, long finish. 96 points

A pretty basic write up, but when you are sipping this stunner with chocolate lava cake it’s hard to divert too much attention to making assessments.  An amazing wine to savor with friends for the next 30 years or so.  I have to agree with the pros, this is at least a 96 point wine that gets 5 stars.  Salut….

Brokenwood Oakey Creek Semillon 2009, Hunter Valley, Australia

27 Wednesday Apr 2022

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At my weekly WSET class we were tasked with the notes on this Semillon.  It was medium lemon colored although there may have been a tendency toward gold IMO.  The nose was of medium (+) intensity but fell off quickly.  We got aromas of beeswax, toast, flint, tangerine, grapefruit, white blossom and ripe pear.  I thought this developing wine was quite complex albeit not yet showing the big tertiary notes associated with the Hunter Valley.  The palate was dry with medium (+) acidity- a good thing for helping age these graceful wines.  Medium (+) body coupled with medium alcohol and medium (+) intensity flavors of the above.  The citrus stood out on the mid palate and long finish.  We though this wine was of Very Good Quality and could do with further aging.  Overall I feel this is potentially a 91 point wine and for $30 it gets 4 stars.  The pros went as high as 94 but I don’t see it.  Salut….

Chateau du Cros 2015, Loupiac, France

28 Monday Mar 2022

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This dessert style Bordeaux wine is pale gold in the glass- a stunning shade imho.  The nose is chock full of Botrytis-driven goodness.  Dried apricots, honey, marzipan, orange marmalade, candied ginger.  The palate is sweet, luscious and silky- yet full bodied.  It’s hard to tell that there is much acidity, but if it lacked that key component this wine would be out of balance, which it’s not.  Unctuous flavors of apricot, honey, marmalade and candied ginger caress my palate so beautifully.  The worst part of the finish on this wine is the the fact that it ends, after a decently long time lingering on my palate.  Still young, this blend of Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc will further evolve and be delicious until 2033.  92 points from me for this $ $28 stunner makes it a 5 star effort.  Salut….

Chateau Raymond-Lafon 2014, Sauternes, France

12 Saturday Mar 2022

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As I poured this medium gold colored elixir I couldn’t help but notice its viscosity.  The nose has delightful aromas of honey, apricot jam, geranium, hibiscus, citrus extract and a very unique burnt smell.  It may be from the sulfites??  The palate is sweet but not cloying.  The flavors are pronounced in strength and display textbook Botrytis notes of honey, apricot, florals, a touch of bread/yeast and nuts.  The acidity is medium and the body is full.  The honey component really shines on the mid palate along with the ripe stone fruit. The finish of this dessert wine is medium in length and really coats my mouth with sweet yummy goodness.  I love drinking this wine right now and am happy I have more bottles to watch the evolution.  It will drink well into 2030’s and gets 93 points from me.  I believe you can find a half bottle for around $30 making it a 5 star effort.  It cries for Blue cheese or Foie Gras.  Salut….

Chateau Suduiraut 2010, Sauternes, France

26 Friday Nov 2021

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For Thanksgiving dessert I opened this chilled bottle of sweet Bordeaux nectar.  It was spectacular to say the least.  Medium gold with shimmering legs in the glass.  The nose had pronounced aromas of honey, apricots, candied tangerine and crystallized mango. Super unctuous, sweet, waxy – flavors of apricot, marmalade, tangerine, honey and that telltale Botrytis note.  Medium acidity and full body.  The finish is very long and the sweetness coats the mouth.  This is one of the best Sauternes I have ever come across.  For $30 per half bottle this is a must-cellar wine for short to long term enjoyment.  96 points from me and 5 if not 6 stars.  Salut….

Vieux Chateau Lamothe Blanc 2020, Bordeaux, France

17 Wednesday Nov 2021

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This Bordeaux blend consists of 40% Semillon, 40% Sauvignon Blanc and 20% Muscadelle.  It is a medium gold in the glass and the 12.5% ABV leaves barely a sheen of watery legs in the glass. On the nose it has all the makings of a classic Sav Blanc- gooseberry, cut grass, cat’s pee and pineapple with some waxy notes from the Semillon.  The palate is refreshing with medium acidity, light weight body and fresh flavors of gooseberry, pineapple, honeysuckle and that waxy note I got on the nose.  The finish is medium in length and is a touch tangy from the acidity.  I like this lightish wine that sports good fruit-forward notes with a nice mouthfeel that is easy to drink.  I would pair it with fresh seafood, lighter chicken dishes and salads.  For $15 it is a good one to stock up on for the short term, 88 points.  3 stars from me.  Salut….

Chateau Fieuzal L’Abeille de Fieuzal 2015, Pessac-Leognan, France

15 Monday Nov 2021

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This Bordeaux blend of Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc is beautiful in the glass- deep golden colored it shows off its age appropriately.  There is just a sheen of legs, which made me check the ABV- 12.5%.  Perfect.  I’m getting a little tired of getting tipsy too soon.  The nose is quite pronounced with aromas of gooseberry, lemon zest, green apple, honeysuckle, biscuit and persimmon.  A very interesting combination!  The palate is very soft and smooth with gentle acidity, full body and good length.  The flavors are more secondary and tertiary driven.  Citrus and apple give way to buttery components alongside toast and biscuit.  I did a bit of research after the fact.  This wine is technically a “drink now”, up to 2019.  Whoops.  It certainly shows some age but I think it will go swimmingly well with our grilled Salmon and sautéed spinach tonight.  If you have any, pop soon.  89 points from me for this $32 wine make it a 3 star effort.  Salut…..

Château Lamothe Bordeaux Blanc 2020, Bordeaux, France

06 Wednesday Oct 2021

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I recently tried the 2019 Lamothe and enjoyed it- so when the latest bottling came out I had to give it a go.  I’m banging up some clams in garlic and butter, this crisp wine is hopefully the perfect pairing.  It is quite a deep lemon color in the glass. The aromas are quite pronounced and I get lemon zest, honeysuckle, asparagus, geranium and pineapple.  The palate is dry, with medium acidity and medium weight body.  The alcohol is low at 12.5% which makes for a crisp mouthfeel.  The flavors are quite pronounced and echo the nose although I also get some lychee and other tropical notes.  It’s quite complex for a basic white Bordeaux blend of Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc that runs $15.  I am thinking 90 points and 5 stars, drink now for the freshness. Salut….

Chateau Marotte Blanc 2020, Bordeaux, France

02 Saturday Oct 2021

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Dinner is Jamaican Jerk Pork.  A spicy dish that needs careful consideration for a pairing.  The first varietal that comes to mind is Riesling.  Number 2 choice- Gewurtztraminer.  I have both in the fridge but opted for this young and fresh Bordeaux blend of Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc that weighs in at a decent 12% ABV. It is very pale in the glass with a lemon color.  The aromas pop out of the glass with lots of intensity.  Lemon zest, tangerine, passion fruit, mango and geranium.  The palate is dry and packed with juicy acidity.  Citrus and floral notes abound alongside exotic fruit flavors that I got on the nose.  Although it is a crisp wine, it has a certain body and mouthfeel to it that I am really enjoying.  It is fresh and lively and will certainly give the spices in the dish a good complement.  This wine is probably best drunk young and paired with fish, pork or a vegetable tart.  It is juicy right up till the medium length finish gives out.  Yummy stuff that gets 89 points from me and at $20 it is worthy of 4 stars.  Salut….

Château Lamothe Bordeaux Blanc 2019, Bordeaux, France

14 Thursday Jan 2021

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This blend of Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc is a mid shade of gold in the glass. On the nose I get citrus, melon, lychee and ginger. On the palate it offers bright and juicy lemons, pineapple, lychee and some good minerality. The acidity is very well appointed, not too sharp but enough to keep it crisp. The flavors continue to a decent length finish. I am really impressed with the complexity of this wine’s nose. For $15 this is a great summer sipper that will also pair really well with grilled Salmon, Cobb salad or chicken on the charcoal. 89 points from me make it a 5 star effort to stock up on- really yummy stuff. Drink till 2024. Salut….