Petit Verdot
The minor blending grape of Bordeaux. 1-5% of Médoc blends but contributes outsized color, tannin, and floral aromatics. Late-ripening, climate-sensitive.
About Petit
Petit Verdot is the minor but editorially distinctive blending grape of Bordeaux — typically 1-5% of Médoc Cabernet-dominated blends but contributing color depth, tannin structure, and a distinctive floral-violet aromatic that’s greater than its blend percentage would suggest. The grape’s primary challenge is climatic: it ripens very late (often the last grape harvested in Bordeaux), and in cool vintages may not ripen fully — which is why historically it was a minor component. Climate warming has somewhat reduced this risk in modern Bordeaux. Outside Bordeaux, single-varietal Petit Verdot has emerged in warmer regions (parts of California, Spain La Mancha, Australia) where the grape can ripen reliably; these wines are typically extremely tannic, deeply colored, and require substantial aging. Notable example: Yquem’s vineyards include Petit Verdot, but it’s used in their Y dry white — not the sweet wine.
Variety profile
Editorial notes
Petit Verdot 1-5% contribution to a blend has outsized impact — the grape’s color, tannin, and floral character add real depth without dominating. Single-varietal expressions are rare and editorially polarizing.