Introducing Barnard Griffin’s Petit Verdot
When we think of Petit Verdot, we usually think of a red variety that is mixed in with other red varieties to form a wonderful Bordeaux wine. It’s only in the last 25 or so years that this grape has been made into a standalone wine.
The History of Petit Verdot
Named for the small size of its berries (the name translates to “little green one”), Petit Verdot is best known as a minor blending grape in the Bordeaux region of France.
In my article from a number of years ago entitled Petit Verdot, How I Love Thee, I talked about the fact that in France, with the seasons being so short, the grape often doesn’t have a chance to fully ripen. In these cases, none or very little of the grape is included in Bordeaux blends. So, the grape has become much less important in Bordeaux today.
The Standalone Wines
In the 1970s, the grape started to thrive in warmer climates, including Australia, Spain and California, where on an increasing basis it is made into standalone wines (rather than blended wines).
In the state of Washington, where Barnard Griffin is located, Petit Verdot ranks as the variety with the highest average price per ton. In 2018, that number was $1,675 per ton, edging out another Bordeaux variety – cabernet franc – at $1,618. The average price per ton for cabernet sauvignon, the most widely planted grape in Washington, stood at $1,505.
Key Characteristics
Masterclass has a great write-up about the grape’s characteristics: “The berries are small and their thick skins are full of tannin and color. In warmer climates…, petit verdot expresses itself with floral, black fruit, herbal notes, and gravelly minerality. Wines made from this grape are quite tannic and rich in color and body.”
How the Wine Taste?
Petit verdot wines are full-bodied and have some or all of these notes:
- Blackberry
- Blueberry
- Plum
- Black cherry
- Violet
- Lilac
- Sage
- Licorice
- Olives
- Pencil lead
- Pepper
- Sage
- Cocoa
About Barnard Griffin’s Petit Verdot
Here is how Barnard Griffin describes their wine: “Fragrant nose of dark berry and dried fruit shaded by hints of red currant. Cherry, plum, cranberry and spicy oak flavors are embedded in a velvety, lush texture. A great match for hearty dishes and grilled meats.”
