in the vineyard : Sémillon is the mainstay of white Bordeaux in France. In South Africa this varietal, also known as Green Grape, was first planted in Constantia by Simon van der Stel in the 1680s, but it was the French Huguenots who are credited for popularising Sémillon at the Cape. The varietal is appreciated for its round, lanoliney quality and to a lesser extent, for herbaceous flavours, similar to those of the much sharper Sauvignon Blanc, and produces wines which have many more nuances than, for instance, Chardonnay. The vines are grown in cool, decomposed granite soils which have a high water-retention capacity.
in the cellar : With the 1998 vintage, Neethlingshof is launching its first Sémillon produced on the estate. It is an exceptional wine with multi-faceted dimensions, bottled under an ultra-premium label. This varietal was adopted in a very serious manner by Neethlingshof after it was established that the estate has the right attributes for growing superior quality Sémillon. The success of the first vintage is also attributed to the vinification practices that were followed to maximise the fruit aromas and flavours of Sémillon. After skin contact that lasted four hours, fermentation was started in temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks using Vin 13 yeast, and completed in small French oak barrels. The wine was kept on its lees in wood and stirred regularly for five months.