Petit Verdot Wine Grapes, Flavor, Character, History

Petit Verdot gained fame as a blending grape for Bordeaux wine. Petit Verdot has difficulties reaching full phenolic ripeness. The berries need select conditions starting with the correct weather during flowering. Petit Verdot ripens later than the other main Bordeaux varietals. This lateness often precludes the fruit from being included in the blend. Interestingly, Petit Verdot has a unique characteristic. It produces more than two clusters per shoot. The grape is much older than Cabernet Sauvignon. It is thought that the fruit was planted in Bordeaux by the ancient Romans.

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While Petit Verdot is not always used in the blends, due to its issues with achieving ripeness, when it is part of the assemblage, it adds additional tannin, color and a unique flavor profile that can manifest itself with flowers, olive or when very ripe, blueberry characteristics. When not fully ripe, it tends to be a sharply, acidic and unpleasant grape. Chateau Pichon Lalande in Pauillac has some of the largest plantings of Petit Verdot in the Medoc. Chateau Palmer in Margaux and Lagrange in St. Julien are also known for including Petit Verdot in their Bordeaux wine, provided the berries were able to fully ripen.  Chateau Fonbel in St. Emilion could have the largest amount of Petit Verdot plantings in the Right Bank at close to 10%.  Chateau La Lagune could have the most Petit Verdot of any 1855 Classified wine at 10%.  Chateau Belle-Vue in Haut Medoc has 20% of the vines dedicated to Petit Verdot. However, the largest plantings of Petit Verdot in Bordeaux are probably located atages,  Chateau Bolaire in Bordeaux Superieur. In some vintages, 40% of their blend could be Petit Verdot!