Locus’s winemaker, Rich Burton, worked in corporate Seattle before finding his way into making wine. Locus enjoys a local cult following and recently moved their tasting room to Pioneer Square in downtown Seattle. While their 2017 Sémillon is starting to lose some of its youthful magic, that shouldn’t discourage you from aging a few bottles. I have tasted their older Sémillons and they develop very nicely. This rendition shows stone fruit, bruised apple, and overripe mango but will develop marzipan and almond notes if permitted to age in a cellar environment. If you are a fan of youthful Sémillon to drink now, the 2018 was recently released and is an excellent choice.
Locus Wines, Rattlesnake Hills (Columbia Valley, Washington) Semillon 2017
By Vince Simmon