South African Semillon

Last week’s trip to South Africa really reinforced for me the very special quality of Semillon in Cape vineyards. In the early 19^th century Semillon (known then as ‘the green grape’ for its bright green leaves) was by a mile the most planted grape variety here  - more than 90% of all vines planted – and even today Semillon vines tend to be on average far, far older than other varieties, resulting in particularly resonant wines. It has never been desperately fashionable nor desperately unfashionable which has helped keep the vines in the ground. And the great thing is that South Africa’s dry Semillons (which is almost all of them) are full bodied, chock full of personality, while being both racy with a slightly green herbal quality yet lots of weight and fat, and seem to have the ability to age gracefully and interestingly.