Morandé, Terrarum Patrimonial Semillon, Maule Valley, Chile 2022

It's more common to find Semillon from France or Australia, but this Chilean example is a great find at the £10 mark. The grapes were grown in granite soils on a south-facing slope in the Loncomilla Valley, in Chile's Coastal Range. A quarter of the grapes were fermented in cement eggs with their skins, the remaining 75% fermented in stainless steel. They were then blended together and aged briefly in a mix of stainless steel and a used 4,000-litre foudre, so the oak influence is negligible. You'll find typical young Semillon traits here: a lemon and lime citrus vibrancy, a waxiness to the texture, and a white floral fragrance, plus hints of white pepper. Brisk and fresh now, I'd be tempted to buy an extra bottle or two to revisit a year or two down the line.