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WTN: 100% Petit Verdot

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Tim York

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WTN: 100% Petit Verdot

by Tim York » Thu Oct 18, 2018 4:34 am

IIRC this is the first time I have had a 100% varietal Petit Verdot. As most wine lovers know, it enters in very small proportions into the Médoc Bordeaux blend to bring more colour and structure. Here is an explanation in Le Figaro Vin which I find useful -

Le petit verdot est un cépage de maturité tardive, il apporte au vin une couleur intense, une richesse tannique, et une puissance aromatique caractérisée par la violette. Il entre dans l’assemblage des plus grands domaines comme celui du Château Lafite Rotschild.

Insensible à la pourriture, le petit verdot est toujours vendangé en dernier, pour parfaire les plus délicats assemblages. Sa culture est aujourd’hui en régression et ne concerne que quelques centaines d’hectares mais il figure encore dans les plus grands crus classés du Médoc.


Paraphrase = "PV is a late maturing variety which brings deep colour, rich tannins and powerful aromas of violet to the most delicate blends. It is not subject to rot and is harvested last. Its cultivation is declining but is still found in the leading GCCs in Médoc"

This one comes from Languedoc and it is probable that the Mediterranean climate makes for a better balanced 100% varietal wine than would be possible in the Bordeaux region.

2016 Domaine Preignes Le Vieux Petit Verdot Vin de Pays d'Oc - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Vin de Pays d'Oc (10/18/2018)
This is an unusual wine but very enjoyable. Dark coloured, full bodied, generous full of bramble and blackcurrant fruit with an attractive background taste which I find hard to describe (the back label suggests almonds and coconut??), lively non-astringent acidity and firm ripe structure. Not sure that I want it every day but I'll certainly buy more if I have recorded its price, 9€, correctly. Good+.
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David M. Bueker

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Re: WTN: 100% Petit Verdot

by David M. Bueker » Thu Oct 18, 2018 7:37 am

It's always interesting to taste the "minor" grapes in a central role. PV is widely planted in Virginia. Several of our Virginia wineries now make a varietal Petit Verdot. It has become a bit of a calling card for the industry.
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Re: WTN: 100% Petit Verdot

by Paul Winalski » Thu Oct 18, 2018 2:02 pm

I've read that in Bordeaux petit verdot is something of an "insurance variety". It's not as prone to rot as cabernet or merlot, but it matures late, and sometimes not at all, which is what prevents more of it being planted. Maturation would not be a problem in Languedoc.

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Bob Parsons Alberta

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Re: WTN: 100% Petit Verdot

by Bob Parsons Alberta » Thu Oct 18, 2018 3:39 pm

Spiked my interest, have some PV from Australia. Usually cellar 4 yrs or so.
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Re: WTN: 100% Petit Verdot

by Jon Leifer » Thu Oct 18, 2018 9:16 pm

Paumonok on Long Island also makes a varietal PV..quite dark, takes a few years for the tannins to resolve and nose is redolent of violets..Charles Massoud justifiably quite proud of his PV..His 2013 was a birthday present to me from my daughter, purchased after we tasted the wine on my birthday 2 yrs ago with Charles at the winery. It is the only varietal PV that I have tasted.
Last edited by Jon Leifer on Fri Oct 19, 2018 10:19 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: WTN: 100% Petit Verdot

by Mark S » Fri Oct 19, 2018 10:03 am

Don't forget Briceland in California or Passopisciaro's Vini Franchetti as well!
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Re: WTN: 100% Petit Verdot

by Peter May » Sat Oct 20, 2018 7:11 am


Its cultivation is declining


I'd say the opposite. It's a late ripener in Bordeaux, often not ripe in time for the vintage in the past, per its name - Little Green One.

But it's being more planted and used in Bordeaux now.

I've not had many varietal PV's but have enjoyed those I have had.
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Re: WTN: 100% Petit Verdot

by Tim York » Sat Oct 20, 2018 10:01 am

[quote="Peter May"]

Interesting! Given the undoubted warming of the Bordelais climate and the qualities of the grape, it does seem logical that there should be some replanting of PV. This article for French readers https://www.larvf.com/,petit-verdot-le- ... 268684.asp seems to support that though it is a little short of a hard facts about estates doing the replanting.
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Re: WTN: 100% Petit Verdot

by Bob Parsons Alberta » Sat Oct 20, 2018 9:47 pm

Not a bad article so thanks.
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Re: WTN: 100% Petit Verdot

by Mike_F » Sun Oct 21, 2018 3:11 am

Yatir, one of Israel's premier boutique wineries, has been making an excellent varietal Petit Verdot for some years now. The terroir is somewhat unique, at the southern tip of the Judean Hills, where the planted Yatir forest meets the desert. More about the winery and the region at http://yatirwinery.com/en/about/ , and more about the wine at http://yatirwinery.com/en/wine/yatir-petit-verdot/
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