EP 545 Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon Go Together Like Peas and Carrots

Gary Vaynerchuk tastes 3 whites that feature this classic grape combination.

Wines tasted in this episode:

Steenberg Sauvignon BlancSouth African Sauvignon Blanc
2007 Cadaretta Sauvignon Blanc/ SemillonColumbia Valley White Meritage
2006 Volker Eisele GeminiNapa White Meritage

Latest Comment:

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Luca Bercelli

89/100 – line of the day ‘smells like a tyre on fire’

Solid.

Tags: Columbia Valley, napa, review, sauvignon blanc, South Africa, Video, white, wine, wines

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  • Jerry Bob

    Great show love them both seperate or together. no particular producer stands out.

  • Jerry Bob

    Great show love them both seperate or together. no particular producer stands out.

  • QOTD: Never tried one, but will move that to the top my list! Thanks Gary!

  • QOTD: Never tried one, but will move that to the top my list! Thanks Gary!

  • Sassodoro

    QOTD. Yeah, I’ve had a few, including some white Bordeaux. I was thinking at the beginning of the episode, when you said that for many years Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc blends were mainly from Australia, but what about white Bordeaux? I love the aromatics and the oiliness that Semillon contributes.

  • Sassodoro

    QOTD. Yeah, I’ve had a few, including some white Bordeaux. I was thinking at the beginning of the episode, when you said that for many years Semillon/Sauvignon Blanc blends were mainly from Australia, but what about white Bordeaux? I love the aromatics and the oiliness that Semillon contributes.

  • hasbeen

    One of the best whites I have had this year was a 2006 Chateau Guiraud “G”. It is apparently impossible to find in the Midwest though.

  • hasbeen

    One of the best whites I have had this year was a 2006 Chateau Guiraud “G”. It is apparently impossible to find in the Midwest though.

  • Dan-o

    GV – I was a little surprised that you did not explain more thoroughly that Bordeaux is the ancestral home of this blend – or at least the “Capitol” of Sauv Blanc/Sem.
    QOTD – I only recently became a fan of this blend and it was a wine from the Bordeaux region, but not a name brand. I like the style.

  • Dan-o

    GV – I was a little surprised that you did not explain more thoroughly that Bordeaux is the ancestral home of this blend – or at least the “Capitol” of Sauv Blanc/Sem.
    QOTD – I only recently became a fan of this blend and it was a wine from the Bordeaux region, but not a name brand. I like the style.

  • I’m not big on the new wrist band, Gary!
    The statue of liberty thing suggests that the “vayner nation” is something which can only exist in the USA.
    : (

    Never had anything like that but at the moment I’m drinking a Pouilly-Fumé and I was thinking you should definitely do a show on them! Whip out some Baron De L, it’s amazing!!

    I also was just thinking you should do a show discussing additives in wine. Something I’ve been concerned about lately. They’re not listed on the labels so no one ever knows when they’re there!
    They put a lot of chemicals in wine and people aren’t aware.

  • I’m not big on the new wrist band, Gary!
    The statue of liberty thing suggests that the “vayner nation” is something which can only exist in the USA.
    : (

    Never had anything like that but at the moment I’m drinking a Pouilly-Fumé and I was thinking you should definitely do a show on them! Whip out some Baron De L, it’s amazing!!

    I also was just thinking you should do a show discussing additives in wine. Something I’ve been concerned about lately. They’re not listed on the labels so no one ever knows when they’re there!
    They put a lot of chemicals in wine and people aren’t aware.

  • Very interesting.
    QOTD: Stilton, maybe Roquefort, but I have only had that once. Port, Sherry (Dry Sack Medium, right now) , Riesling, or Gewurtz to pair.

  • Very interesting.
    QOTD: Stilton, maybe Roquefort, but I have only had that once. Port, Sherry (Dry Sack Medium, right now) , Riesling, or Gewurtz to pair.

  • delete that, wrong episode. I just watched the cheese one, sorry

  • delete that, wrong episode. I just watched the cheese one, sorry

  • M Lee

    QOTD: Yes, I’ve had a few white bordeaux, most recently the Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc 2005. What a wonderful, complex, layered, and full white. It got better as it warmed up (not surprising) with notes of honey, a little caramel, creme brulee, lemon zest — even the empty glass smelled ethereal after I drank it. I bought a case, despite the ridiculous price point, as well as a case of Blanc de Lynch Bages 2005. I am looking forward to aging these and trying them throughout the years to come. (It’s hard not to drink them all now, though)

  • M Lee

    QOTD: Yes, I’ve had a few white bordeaux, most recently the Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc 2005. What a wonderful, complex, layered, and full white. It got better as it warmed up (not surprising) with notes of honey, a little caramel, creme brulee, lemon zest — even the empty glass smelled ethereal after I drank it. I bought a case, despite the ridiculous price point, as well as a case of Blanc de Lynch Bages 2005. I am looking forward to aging these and trying them throughout the years to come. (It’s hard not to drink them all now, though)

  • BettyLou

    NZ. Pegasus Bay (canterbury). Sauv, Sem (70/30). Got to do a tasting at the winery once, got to see the end of ferments for the current vintage, then try the three previous years in bottle. Not normally a Sem fan, but it worked really well in this wine, especially with some age. Awesome (awesome winery in general).

  • BettyLou

    NZ. Pegasus Bay (canterbury). Sauv, Sem (70/30). Got to do a tasting at the winery once, got to see the end of ferments for the current vintage, then try the three previous years in bottle. Not normally a Sem fan, but it worked really well in this wine, especially with some age. Awesome (awesome winery in general).

  • Dan Manu

    I have this blend very often and is one of my faves… generally i like the Semillon dominated ones better! mmm 🙂

  • Dan Manu

    I have this blend very often and is one of my faves… generally i like the Semillon dominated ones better! mmm 🙂

  • Nathan Wiggins

    Maybe the Gemini was just a bad bottle. I wouldn’t think that would be a typical tasting component.

  • Nathan Wiggins

    Maybe the Gemini was just a bad bottle. I wouldn’t think that would be a typical tasting component.

  • QOTD: No. but I think Ill go find some of that first wine. Yeehaw!!

  • QOTD: No. but I think Ill go find some of that first wine. Yeehaw!!

  • JayZee

    QOTD: Yeah, I have had a couple of White Bordeaux but I’ve never had a Semillon-Sauvignon Blanc blend form anywhere else that I can recall. Then again, I may have had one from the Hunter Valley in Australia when I was there back in 2000.

  • JayZee

    QOTD: Yeah, I have had a couple of White Bordeaux but I’ve never had a Semillon-Sauvignon Blanc blend form anywhere else that I can recall. Then again, I may have had one from the Hunter Valley in Australia when I was there back in 2000.

  • Jason S.

    QOTD: not sure?

  • Jason S.

    QOTD: not sure?

  • QOTD: Yes. Have had the Steenberg and agree with the taste notes. Great bang for the buck. Time to stock up.

  • QOTD: Yes. Have had the Steenberg and agree with the taste notes. Great bang for the buck. Time to stock up.

  • Another great episode, though can’t say I’ve ever tried a SB/S blend…yet!!!

  • Another great episode, though can’t say I’ve ever tried a SB/S blend…yet!!!

  • QOTD: Nope.

  • QOTD: Nope.

  • Flavio

    QOTD: I’ve had plenty of white Bordeaux – don’t think I’ve ever had any sauvignon blanc / semillon made elsewhere.

    What really sparked my interest (in buying/ordering white Bordeaux) was the Callac in the Christmas pack. After that, I had a life altering experience in February at a Haut Brion dinner in London where I had both Haut Brion Blanc and Laville Haut Brion for the first time. Here are the notes:

    http://tv.winelibrary.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=14366&highlight=

  • Flavio

    QOTD: I’ve had plenty of white Bordeaux – don’t think I’ve ever had any sauvignon blanc / semillon made elsewhere.

    What really sparked my interest (in buying/ordering white Bordeaux) was the Callac in the Christmas pack. After that, I had a life altering experience in February at a Haut Brion dinner in London where I had both Haut Brion Blanc and Laville Haut Brion for the first time. Here are the notes:

    http://tv.winelibrary.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=14366&highlight=

  • Achilleas in Cyprus

    Nice show.

    QOTD; Nope, never.

  • Achilleas in Cyprus

    Nice show.

    QOTD; Nope, never.

  • Anonymous

    QOTD: Yes- many, but only from Bordeaux- mostly Graves. I have had Semillon from other wine growing regions, but not blended.

  • YoungDave

    QOTD: Yes- many, but only from Bordeaux- mostly Graves. I have had Semillon from other wine growing regions, but not blended.

  • QOTD: Hell yeah! I’m livng in the heart of Pessac Leognan!!!!

  • QOTD: Hell yeah! I’m livng in the heart of Pessac Leognan!!!!

  • Wow, great QPR on 1st wine! Holy good deal, Batman. I don’t like Semillon by itself too much as too waxy/viscous and don’t love the flavor. I think they use Semillon in Sauternes though which of course is great.
    QOTD: I’m sure I have. In fact the Le Frappe S.A.S. Philippe Raoux Brut I purchased at the Wine Lib on my 1 visit there. I liked it.

  • Wow, great QPR on 1st wine! Holy good deal, Batman. I don’t like Semillon by itself too much as too waxy/viscous and don’t love the flavor. I think they use Semillon in Sauternes though which of course is great.
    QOTD: I’m sure I have. In fact the Le Frappe S.A.S. Philippe Raoux Brut I purchased at the Wine Lib on my 1 visit there. I liked it.

  • yowens

    Really appreciated the explanation at the beginning as to why they pair well together- cheers! QOTD: Of course. A killer one is the St. Supery Virtu

  • yowens

    Really appreciated the explanation at the beginning as to why they pair well together- cheers! QOTD: Of course. A killer one is the St. Supery Virtu

  • Dessert Wine Nerd

    QOTD: Im not too sure. Im sure I have at a tasting, but cant recall. Have had some straight up semillions that ive enjoyed. Def. a style of wine ill have to check out!

  • Dessert Wine Nerd

    QOTD: Im not too sure. Im sure I have at a tasting, but cant recall. Have had some straight up semillions that ive enjoyed. Def. a style of wine ill have to check out!

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