Why I will never drink Petrus

Well, you'll never drink it from the E Palace, but never say never. I'll never buy Petrus, but I depend on the genorosity of strangers (and friends) for my tastes of trophy wines.

Just repeat after me, Joseph: it's just Merlot. Thrice nightly and you'll feel better in no time. Just don't think about foxes and grapevines ;-)

Mark Lipton

When you put it that way :) I had some of that last night from Costco et cie. Vin du Pays du Kirk! Just like it Wow to think . . .

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Wow. I have a couple of bottles left from days gone by and to be honest it never met or exceeded any expectation I had for it. It was basically just OK.

Same here. Have tasted several from great vintages, and while it was good, I never saw what the fuss was other than scarcity.

Thinking of what four legged creatures can get up to in a vineyard is, of course, why the Jurats of Saint-Émilion in the middle ages used to ban dogs from the vineyards in the period between between fruit set and harvest.

Tim Hartley

Speaking of Merlot, last evening I was at a tasting that included Ch. Bellevue Montaigu 2000 Fronsac. We were told that this wine was 100% Merlot. I am under the impression that no Bordeaux is 100% any grape, always a blend. I can't find any reference to this on the internet, does anyone know for certain? BTW the wine was basically unpleasant with a distinct burnt rubber nose and taste. Blind I would have guessed a poorly made Pinotage.

pavane

There are the 5 permitted grapes, which are usually a blend, but no require ment for blend. People sometimes say Petrus is 100% Merlot, but think it ha s a tiny % CF. But pretty sure that there are a few St Emilion garagiste wi nes (Gomerie is one) that are 100% merlot, as are some Bordeaux AC and RB s atellite wines.

requirement for blend.

Am I wrong or aren't there six permitted grapes?

Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc Merlot Malbec Petit Verdot Carmenere

Although I don't think anyone uses Carmenere anymore (and even Petit Verdot is very rarely used).

Carmenere might still be on the books, but my impression was it was not actually still found in Bordeaux. When they identified some vines in Chile previously thought to be Merlot as Carmenere, I think they did DNA tasting based on vines kept by the INRA

Apologies to those where this is a double post, I realized I had not posted in reply to Ken.

Carmenere might still be on the books, but my impression was it was not actually still found in Bordeaux. When they identified some vines in Chile previously thought to be Merlot as Carmenere, I think they did DNA tasting based on vines kept by the INRA

Pichon Lalande & Palmer have the highest routine PV content of any classified Bordeaux I know of, and I think still single digit percentage.

Thanks for the info; I didn't realize they could opt out of blending. Good article on Carmenere, too.

pavane

actually still found in

Yes, as I said "Although I don't think anyone uses Carmenere anymore..." But although it isn't used, I believe that it is still permitted.

Thanks. I knew that few used it, and those that did used very little, but I didn't know who they were.

"pavane" wrote in news:Asost.59177$d9.1956@en-nntp-

12.dc1.easynews.com:

Most are blends, but there are a few wines in Bordeaux which are only made with one grape. La Gravire in Lalande de Pomerol is one example: 100% Merlot.

s.

Mark Lipton wrote in news:koh2a9$l9g$1 @speranza.aioe.org:

I agree.

At the end of (my) the day, it is just wine. I will let the wealthiest of this world to drink all the Petrus while I look for all the excellent wines out there without the need to break the bank.

s.

Sounds like sour grapes to me.

A vigneron Bordelais (circa 1982) told me that Carmnre wasn't recommended, but was tolerated.

Wines aren't just a beverage, they can be status symbols as well, whose lables can be conspicuously turned for others to see. Discriminating enthusiasts, not wanting to be kidnapped, are demure in this regard.

I think you'll find that Carmenere, and Malbec have fallen out of favor.