Uncover extra about this extremely widespread wine grape selection and the very best dishes to reinforce the flavours of this pink wine.
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What’s Petit Verdot wine?
Petit Verdot provides spice and color to blends of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, nevertheless it’s not often seen solo. Nevertheless, in hotter climates comparable to Australia, winemakers prefer to see what the characterful grape can do. It’s additionally grown in Chile, Argentina, South Africa and California, the place it’s utilized in Bordeaux-style wines. Petit Verdot is a late-ripening selection.
The identify, ‘little inexperienced’, is a reference to how the berries usually didn’t ripen correctly in Bordeaux’s maritime local weather, the place a number of very uncommon varietal Petit Verdots are produced. The grape was launched to Australia by James Busby, and it thrives within the nation’s heat local weather, making distinctive wines in South Australia, Victoria and Margaret River. California, Washington state, South Africa and Chile additionally do nice issues with Petit Verdot, and there’s some grown in Spain, Italy and Turkey, too. Exterior France, it’s often seen in blends with Cabernet or Merlot, however you do see some varietal variations.
What does Petit Verdot wine style like?
When correctly ripe, Petit Verdot can style of damson jam, violets and cloves. You may additionally notice inexperienced peppercorns, blueberries and lilac. It’s a high-tannin selection, so it’s essential to ripen it totally, or it may be arduous work. Younger Petit Verdot generally is a bit a lot, so it often spends time in oak, which tames the tannins and brings out a spicy aspect. It’s often utilized in Bordeaux in very small quantities so as to add spice and color. However, in hotter climates, it’s usually added in bigger percentages, as its excessive acidity brings helpful freshness to different grape varieties, like Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Petit Verdot needs to be served at cool room temperature, round 16-18C.
Wine membership star and what meals to pair with Petit Verdot wine
Serve with extremely flavoured meals, like barbecued meats or lamb rogan josh. It’s additionally a great match with roast beef at Sunday lunch, and arduous cheeses.
Langhorne Creek Mach 2T Cabernet Petit Verdot
It is a basic mix of Cabernet Sauvignon, with Petit Verdot’s beautiful tannins making this Ausse wine excellent for serving with rare-cooked meats, comparable to leg of lamb or steak. It’s good with a cheeseboard too, or vegetable lasagne.
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Loved studying extra about wine? Take a look at much more pairing guides:
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Grazing platter
Wine skilled Henry Jeffreys, together with the BBC Good Meals group, selects the entire wines on supply to BBC Good Meals readers. Henry writes about wine for The Guardian and The Spectator, and on his weblog, worldofbooze.wordpress.com. He’s additionally a decide within the Finest Drinks Producer class for the BBC Meals and Farming Awards. His e book, The House Bar (£25, Jacqui Small), is out now.
