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Petit Verdot Wine
Petit Verdot is Far More Important than It Gets Credit For
In the world of red blends, Petit Verdot often plays the role of unsung hero. It lends spicy depth and rich color even in small quantities, and in the classic reds of Napa and Bordeaux, it’s often impossible to overstate its importance. And these days, Petit Verdot is making a serious name for itself as a varietally labeled wine in its own right. Let’s take a look at what makes it so special.
What is Petit Verdot wine?
Petit Verdot wine is any wine made from the grape variety of the same name: The Petit Verdot grape. It is often incorrectly spelled as Petite Verdot, so keep in mind that the right way is without that ‘e’—Petit Verdot. There is an increasing range of wine produced around the world entirely from Petit Verdot right now, but for a long time, it was primarily a blending grape, framing other more prominent components in a wine, lending its own unique flavors and textures, but not as often seen on its own. That has changed, and great Petit Verdot is getting more and more popular every year.
Where are Petit Verdot grapes grown?
Petit Verdot grapes are perhaps most famously grown in Napa Valley and Bordeaux, but they also do brilliantly when grown in Paso Robles, Chile, Argentina, Italy, South Africa, Australia, Washington State, Virginia, and Israel. It seems that more excellent Petit Verdot is being produced in new and exciting wine regions around the world every single year.
What does Petit Verdot taste like?
Petit Verdot tends to have rich, dark fruit notes, like brambly berries, cherries, and blueberries, as well as excellent spice characteristics and sometimes notes of violet.
Is Petit Verdot a dry or sweet wine?
Petit Verdot is most frequently produced as a dry wine, which allows its naturally assertive tannins to really shine—it’s a phenomenal wine to pair with rich meat dishes.
What is Petit Verdot similar to?
Petit Verdot can be compared to Merlot in its occasionally plum-like notes, and Cabernet Sauvignon in its assertive dark berry notes. Some Petit Verdot has a slight bacon-y note, which can remind tasters of Syrah in some instances. Its spicier aspects also nod in the direction of Syrah / Shiraz. And when grown in cooler areas, it can take on an herbal quality, not unlike Cabernet Franc.
What does Verdot mean in French?
The root of the word ‘verdot’ is ‘vert,’ which is French for ‘green,’ a term often used to refer to a wine’s tendency to showcase more herbaceous characteristics.
How do you pronounce Petit Verdot?
The proper way to pronounce Petit Verdot is puh-tee ver-doh.
How long can Petit Verdot age?
Petit Verdot can age quite well, assuming it’s from a great producer and an age-worthy vintage. Many red blends that contain Petit Verdot can age for a decade or more, and it’s possible to find top-quality Petit Verdot wines that, even not blended with anything else, can age well for years. But as with most wines, unless you have proper wine storage—55 degrees, constant temperature, no exposure to UV light—it’s best to simply pop the cork and enjoy it as soon as you’d like.
What does Petit Verdot add to a blend?
Petit Verdot often adds spice, black and blue fruit flavors, a touch of floral lift, and a hint of herbaceousness on occasion. It also can add a fair bit of color and tannin to a red blend.
What are some of the most popular Petit Verdot wines?
There are many great producers of Petit Verdot. Among the most popular are Rustenberg, Michael David, Kaiken, Blue Valley, and Terre di Talamo, among others.
Browse our full selection of Petit Verdot online or check out our selection of highly rated Petit Verdot for a great new Petit Verdot to try this week!
Want to learn more about Petit Verdot?
Visit our Guide to Petit Verdot to learn more about Petit Verdot.