Comparison
Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains vs Sémillon
How Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains and Sémillon differ, dimension by dimension.
The short answer
The main differences: Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains has more floral character; Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains has more aromatic intensity; Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains has more fruit intensity.
Choose
Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains
Choose Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains if you want something more floral, more aromatic, fruitier.
Choose
Sémillon
Choose Sémillon if you want something more oaky, fresher and more acidic, fuller and richer.
Where they genuinely differ
Only differences large enough to notice in the glass are listed here. A gap of half a point on a five-point scale is noise, and WineHQ does not dress it up as a finding.
Floral character
Clear differenceBlossom, rose, violet, elderflower, acacia and related aromatic notes.
Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains is more floral: high against low.
Aromatic intensity
Clear differenceHow strongly the wine smells before it is tasted. Some grapes are intrinsically aromatic; others express mainly on the palate.
Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains is more aromatic: high against low-medium.
Fruit intensity
Clear differenceHow loudly the fruit flavours speak, independent of whether they are ripe or tart.
Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains is fruitier: high against medium.
Oak influence
Clear differencePerceptible impact of barrel or alternative oak contact — vanilla, toast, coconut, smoke, cedar and added texture.
Sémillon is more oaky: medium against low.
Acidity
Clear differenceTotal perceived acidity. Rises in cooler climates and with earlier picking; falls with heat and ripeness.
Sémillon is fresher and more acidic: medium-plus against medium.
Body
Clear differenceThe overall weight and viscosity of the wine in the mouth — a composite of alcohol, sugar, extract and glycerol.
Sémillon is fuller and richer: medium against low-medium.
Where they are much the same
Just as useful: knowing which parts of the choice do not matter.
- Sweetness: Similar — both medium.
- Tannin: Similar — both low.
- Alcohol: Similar — both medium.
- Herbal / green character: Similar — both low.
- Spice: Similar — both low.
Full side by side
| Dimension | Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains | Sémillon |
|---|---|---|
| Floral character | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) | low (1/5) |
| Aromatic intensity | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) | typically low-medium, ranging from low to medium (2/5) |
| Fruit intensity | typically high, ranging from medium-plus to high (5/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Oak influence | low (1/5) | typically medium, ranging from low to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Acidity | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from low-medium to high (4/5) |
| Body | typically low-medium, ranging from low to medium (2/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Savoury character | low-medium (2/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Perceived freshness | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to medium-plus (4/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Texture | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium (3/5) | typically medium-plus, ranging from medium to high (4/5) |
| Sweetness | typically medium, ranging from low to high (3/5) | typically medium, ranging from low to high (3/5) |
| Tannin | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Alcohol | typically medium, ranging from low to medium-plus (3/5) | typically medium, ranging from low-medium to medium-plus (3/5) |
| Herbal / green character | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Spice | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Earthy character | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Carbonation | low (1/5) | low (1/5) |
| Serve at | 9–12°C | 11–14°C |
| Typical flavours | grape, orange blossom, elderflower, peach, rose | lemon, lanolin, beeswax, honey, toast |
Values are typical points within each wine’s range. Both wines vary — see the individual pages for how much.
Read more
Grape
Muscat Blanc à Petits Grains
The finest member of the Muscat family, and one of very few varieties whose wine actually smells of grapes.
Grape
Sémillon
A thin-skinned, botrytis-prone variety essential to Sauternes and to a unique long-lived dry style in the Hunter Valley.
Comparison
Sémillon vs Sauvignon Blanc
The two halves of white Bordeaux — what does each contribute?