Sebastien’s Favorite Wines
Semillon
The Bordeaux Tribe's Elegant Charmer
Meet Sebastien, Stephan's best friend and bandmate in their band White Bodo. Originally from France's Bordeaux, he's well-built and athletic, spending much of his time on outdoor sports under warm, sunny skies.
He dresses elegantly in yellow, has a well-known sweet tooth for raisin cakes, and only grows more charismatic with age. When Stephan isn't around, Sebastien enjoys a solo adventure of his own, often turning up in Australia.
In wine terms? Sebastien is Sémillon, one of the two dominant white grape varieties of Bordeaux, France, planted almost as widely there as Sauvignon Blanc, even if Sauvignon gets more of the spotlight today.
It travels well too: Australia, South Africa, Chile, and Argentina all grow it with real success.
Expect a medium-to-full-bodied white wine with medium-to-high acidity, and a yellow-colored wine in the glass. Sémillon thrives in warm, sunny weather, developing an elegant, richly textured character that turns toastier and more complex with age, not unlike Sebastien himself.
Semillon usually shares the spotlight. In Bordeaux, it's blended with Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Gris and Muscadelle, to make White Bordeaux. That same pairing also makes Sauternes, the world's most famous sweet wine, made from grapes affected by noble rot, a beneficial fungus that shrivels the grapes and concentrates their sugars.
But it also stands proudly on its own in Australia's Hunter Valley, where it's prized for its ability to age for decades.Now let's find you some bottles he'd actually approve of.
Sebastien's Top Picks
We picked bottles from Sebastien's homeland and beyond. All available on Pop Up Wine Singapore. Click any wine name to shop it.
1. For a taste of Bordeaux
Château Marjosse : Bordeaux Blanc 2020
Bordeaux, France | $48 / bottle
Sebastien says: "This one tastes like home. This blend of Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc comes from a famous winemaker and French 'wine royalty', Pierre Lurton. Expect green apple, grapefruit, peach, and lemon, a touch of dill, with a long finish. James Suckling and Decanter both scored it 91 points. A great expression of Bordeaux Blanc."
Pairs with: Roast chicken, seafood risotto, or a soft goat cheese
2. For an old-vine Bordeaux blend
Château Marjosse : Cuvée Palombe 2020
Bordeaux, France | $63 / bottle
Sebastien says: "A blend of roughly a third each Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc and the more perfumed Sauvignon Gris, from the famous winemaker and French 'wine royalty', Pierre Lurton. This comes from 45- to 70-year-old vines that produce concentrated quality in small batches. Expect dried lime, apricot, green mango, and a smoky, flinty edge, with a creamy, textured finish. James Suckling scored it 92 points. Real depth for a wine still young enough to enjoy tonight."
Pairs with: Roast turkey, creamy risotto, or aged Gruyère
3. Great value-for-money
Château Latour-Martillac : La Lacroix Martillac Blanc 2019
Pessac-Léognan, France | $65 / bottle
Sebastien says: "Now this is the kind of quality I look for. It comes from a 'Grand Cru' Bordeaux estate, with notes of gooseberry, white peach, and wet stone. Wine Spectator gave it 92 points and Wine Enthusiast gave it 91. Real pedigree without the hefty price tag."
Pairs with: Grilled fish, herb-crusted chicken, or a light goat cheese salad
4. To impress at a dinner party
Château Carbonnieux : L'Enclos de Carbonnieux Pessac Blanc 2019
Pessac-Léognan, France | $75 / bottle
Sebastien says: "It's a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon from Château Carbonnieux, a 'Grand Cru' Bordeaux estate that works towards organic and sustainable farming. Expect lemon curd, green apple, honeysuckle, tarragon, and a touch of herbs, with a long, savory finish. Tasting Book scored it 93 points and Jeff Leve of The Wine Cellar Insider gave it 92. Save this one for when you want to show off a little."
Pairs with: Roast turbot, lobster, or a creamy chicken dish
5. For the Semillon explorer
Brokenwood : ILR Reserve Semillon 2017
Hunter Valley, Australia | $99 / bottle
Sebastien says: "This is me, unblended. Lemon, buttered toast, and a touch of honeysuckle, with racing acidity that keeps it fresh years after bottling. James Suckling gave it 96 points and it won Gold at the Decanter World Wine Awards. Give it a few more years and it only gets better, kind of like me."
Pairs with: Fresh oysters, sushi, or a simple roast chicken
Semillon Cheat Sheet
| Body | Medium-to-full bodied |
| Color | Pale gold to deep straw yellow |
| Tasting notes | Lemon, beeswax, peach, and dried grass, turning honeyed and toasty with age |
| Serve at | 7–12°C |
| Best with | Roast chicken, shellfish, creamy risotto, and goat cheese |
| Avoid with | Very spicy dishes or heavy red meat |
| Glass type | Standard white wine glass (lets its richer, waxy character open up) |
Meet Sebastien
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