The Jancis Robinson Story | Mission Blind Tasting | Wine writing competition

Seminal Sémillon seminar?

Image

Tim Jackson MW would like us all to take more notice of the great grape of Sauternes, in dry form. 

I am a big fan of Sémillon. With its thin skins rendering it prone to benevolent attack by botrytis, it is rightly lauded as the backbone of the great sweet wines of Sauternes and Barsac. In its dry form, however, it is often overlooked and, in my view, undervalued. 

Even the great dry white bordeaux of Pessac-Léognan, whose character is often shaped by a large slug of the variety in its blends with Sauvignon Blanc, typically receive less attention than...

Become a member or log in to continue reading
Member
$135
/year
Save over 15% annually
Ideal for wine enthusiasts
  • Access 296,887 wine reviews & 16,132 articles
  • Access The Oxford Companion to Wine & The World Atlas of Wine
  • Access askJancis, our AI wine assistant
Inner Circle
$249
/year
 
Ideal for collectors

Everything in “Member”, plus:

  • Early access to the latest wine reviews, 48 hours in advance
  • Early access to the latest articles, 48 hours in advance
Professional
$299
/year
For individual wine professionals
  • Access 296,887 wine reviews & 16,132 articles
  • Access The Oxford Companion to Wine & The World Atlas of Wine
  • Access askJancis, our AI wine assistant
  • Early access to the latest wine reviews & articles, 48 hours in advance
  • Commercial use of up to 25 wine reviews & scores for marketing
Business
$399
/year
For companies in the wine trade

Everything in “Professional”, plus:

  • Commercial use of up to 250 wine reviews & scores for marketing
  • Access to submit wines for review
  • Offer memberships to your employees and manage them from a single place
  • API access available for an additional fee
Pay with
Visa logo Mastercard logo American Express logo Logo for more payment options
Join our newsletter

Get the latest from Jancis and her team of leading wine experts.

By subscribing you agree with our Privacy Policy and provide consent to receive updates from our company.

More Tasting articles

Harvest at Robert Weil by Peter Quirin.jpg
Tasting articles A year of extraordinary balance, bright acidity and some of the best Gutsweine in recent memory. Plus a whole lot...
Monty on the beach at Betty’s Bay, near Hemel-en Aarde
Tasting articles Coolness and light in bottles from some of South Africa’s best producers. Above, Monty enjoys the cool surf in Betty’s...
Chris Keets (left) and Banele Vanele (right)
Tasting articles Proof that South Africa remains one of the most rewarding countries for wine. Above, Chris Keets (left) of Weather Report...
Lasseter Trinity Ridge Vineyard - Michael Housewright photography
Tasting articles The combination of historic vineyards, high elevation, volcanic soils and organic viticulture make this little-known AVA stand out. Above, Lasseter...

More from JancisRobinson.com

Boscastle harbour
Free for all Extraordinary seafood and the magic of a good pairing at The Rocket Store. Boscastle harbour is pictured above. The restaurant...
Ch Langoa Barton chai in May 2025
Free for all How is the work of the ISVV transmitted to the châteaux? And how has it affected the wines? Plus, highlights...
Wanton at XO Kitchen
Bite-sized Umami junkies, head east for jaw-achingly tasty fusion and a Honshu sour. Having garnered itself quite a reputation for clever...
chickens in the HJW vineyard at Hermann J Wiemer, Seneca Lake
Wines of the week The dry white wine that established New York’s Finger Lakes as the Riesling mecca of the US. And it’s only...
cheddars, apples and fruity red wine
Inside information Real cheddar for real wine. By some small miracle I manage to locate the one with four functioning wheels. My...
Emptied plates and glasses after a meal by Jason Lowe
Free for all The joy of a roadside diner, by Charlie Geoghegan. Photo by Jason Lowe. There’s this old building by the side...
Opus One winery
Free for all The first transatlantic joint venture Opus One involved icons of 20th century wine. A version of this article is published...
Constantino Ramos
Wines of the week A Vinho Verde white made with the exactitude of a former chemist and the soul of a vine whisperer. From...
Wine inspiration delivered directly to your inbox, weekly
Our weekly newsletter is free for all
By subscribing you're confirming that you agree with our Terms and Conditions.