One of my students asked me the other day, are blended wines
better than mono varietals? and my
answer was ...it depends!
Historically, blending wine was a necessity, especially in
so and so vintages or cooler climates, where grapes strive to get optimal
ripeness every year. So, winemakers
vinified each variety on its own, and then realized that blending was
best. Take Bordeaux for example,
Cabernet puts the muscle and structure and tannins, Merlot the plumpness and fruitiness, Petit verdot
the elegant perfume... the sum of the parts
makes everything better ! Actually the Bordeaux recipe was replicated
everywhere in the world, since if any
wine needed structure and tannins, the solution was to add some Cabernet Sauvignon to the recipe/
blend. Other times, some winemakers added white wine to a red blend, hoping it
will give the wine the acidity or perfume it lacked as is the Northern Cote du
Rhone.
But move to the New World and mono varietals are wonderful and they can stand on their
own!. So I guess much depends on the grape variety and the relationship grapes have with their
location/ soil/ climate in other words what the French define as terroir. But also much depends on the
winemaker's intention, what he/ she wants in a wine, his /her vision and of
course much
depends on what you like, especially on what you are willing to buy at the store!
depends on what you like, especially on what you are willing to buy at the store!
So my dear winos, before you get married to a style of wine, taste as much as you can, great wine pleasure can be obtained from both blends and mono varietals.
Here are some good recommendations for you to try:
Cabernet Blends vs Mono varietal
Blends:
Chateau Meyney 2016 $ 35
Chateau Gloria 2016 $ 45
Chateau Simard (Merlot + Cab Franc) 2010 $30
100% Cabs:
Chateau St Jean Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma Valley 2013 $25
Louis Martini Napa Cabernet 2014 $35
Clos Du Val Napa Cabernet 2015 $45
Tempranillo Blends vs Mono varietal
Blends:Marques de
Riscal Reserva (Tempranillo, Graciano and Mazuelo) 2012 $18
100% Tempranillo: Baron
de Ley 2012 $22
Syrah/Shiraz Blend Vs Mono varietal
Blends: Jaboulet Domaine de Roure (Blend) 2015 $45,
Domaine de Montine Cote Du Rhone Villages (Caprices) 2016 $15
100% Syrah/Shiraz:
Penfolds Kalimna Shiraz 2015 $30, Guigal Crozes Hermitage 2014 $25, Thomas Goss
Shiraz 2016 $15
Sangiovese Blends Vs Mono varietal
Blend: Fattoria
di Basciano Chianti Ruffina 2016 $15, Luaino Chianti Classico 2016 $20
100% Sangiovese: Argiano
Brunello di Montalcino 2012 $50, Castello Dei Rampolla Chianti Classico 2014
$28
Malbec Blends vs Mono varietal
Blend: Clos de
Los 7 2015 $20
100 % Malbec:Trivento
Malbec Reserve 2017 $11, Familia Zuccardi Q Malbec 2017 $20
So try some of these and let me know your thoughts. Cheers!
Silvina.
