Semillon is one of the unheralded whites in the world of wine. It plays a key role in white Bordeaux wine and in Sauternes, and it makes a great value white from Washington State. Semillon is also the grape responsible for ''Hunter Riesling'' or ''Honey Hunters,'' one of the most interesting of Australia's wines. Semillon takes to bottle aging surprisingly well, and it's often inexpensive enough to make laying some down for five years or so very easy. In Bordeaux region, Semillon is used to fill out the leaner and more acidic Sauvignon Blanc, and the two complement each other very nicely. Semillon is often a brilliant gold wine with a soft, full, and sometimes even oily texture, and often shows a scent of figs. It can be made dry or sweet.
