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Arnie
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( 2.8 / 242 )In Bordeaux, the original wines made before the 19th century were basically field blends. That is, they harvested all the grapes together without sorting by varietal and vinified the lot together. Sometimes it would result in a pale red called a clairet, which the British called claret – a term they still use today for any Bordeaux red.
The red grapes in the blend were usually Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot along with Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec. They still blend these grapes together but only after fermentation and ageing them separately by grape variety. The blend is usually made just prior to bottling. Blending gives the final wine more depth and complexity.
The Bordeaux blend has been a huge success and has inspired imitators worldwide, particularly in California and Washington.
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( 3 / 85 )Many people ask me about the difference between Shiraz and Syrah. Are they different grapes?
Shiraz and Syrah are exactly the same grape. The stories about the grape’s origins are fascinating:
• that the grape’s origins are from the city of Shiraz in ancient Persia (false!)
• that the grape’s name derives from Persia’s ruler, Cyrus the Great (false!)
• the the grape originated in Syracuse on the island of Sicily, hence the name Syrah (false!)
• that the grape was brought to Europe from mysterious origins by Hannibal, carried by his elephants, as he traversed across Spain, Southern France, and Italy in his war against Rome (false!)
• and so on…
Syrah originated in the Northern Rhone Valley, probably in the late Middle Ages. It is the result of a field crossing between Dureza (red grape) and Mondeuse Blanche (white grape). We know this, in part, thanks to the genetic fingerprinting work of UC Davis’ Carole Meredith.
In terms of marketing, however, Shiraz is a term used to indicate a more fruit-forward style of Syrah.
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