Ask Jim - Semillon and seafood
Jim Chatto
Leading young winemaker, Jim Chatto
Dear Jim,
I live in Los Angeles, where Semillon is a rarity. I hadn't even heard of it until someone recommended it as a pairing with fish n' chips. Now my wife and I are big fans. I would love some suggestions for food pairings with this wine.
– jfshore, LA
Semillon is one of the best-kept secrets of the wine world and is the perfect partner to seafood. I would argue that a young and vibrant Semillon is a better match to a freshly shucked oyster than one of the famed wines of Chablis.
Australia’s Hunter Valley producers the best examples of Semillon, which is widely regarded as one of the worlds great wine styles. The Hunter Valley winemakers even host an annual Semillon and Seafood Festival, every April, showcasing what is one of the ultimate marriages of food and wine. Look out for Semillons from Tyrrell’s, McWilliams, Brokenwood and Thomas Wines.
Semillon makes a delicate yet intense wine, generally low in alcohol, with great balance, purity and length of flavour. Semillon has the Chameleon like ability to transform over time into an altogether different wine to that of its youth. As Semillon ages it appears to grow in the bottle gaining weight and depth as well as becoming more complex and intense in flavour. The best Semillon will reward good cellaring, ageing for decades into beautifully complex wines of distinction.
When matching Semillon with seafood a young zesty wine will be a great match for lighter more delicately flavoured dishes such as oysters and sashimi. A rich and complex aged Semillon would better suit more fully flavoured dishes, such as grilled fish or lobster.
You will never be sorry if you have a couple of bottles of both young and aged Semillon handy for a seafood luncheon.
Got a question? Send it to Jim Chatto.
Please note, Jim will endeavour to answer as many questions as he can, however there may be delays between submission of questions and publications. Emails will not receive personal responses.
Regions
- Lower Hunter (NSW)
- Hunter including Newcastle (NSW)
- Upper Hunter Valley (NSW)
- Hunter Valley (NSW)
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