Petit Verdot

Petit Verdot is a late-ripening red grape traditionally associated with Bordeaux, where it is used sparingly to contribute structure, color, and aromatic lift to blends. The vine shows moderate to high vigor, producing small, thick-skinned berries in compact clusters, and requires warm, reliably sunny conditions to achieve full phenolic maturity—factors that can limit its consistency in cooler or wetter climates. It performs best in well-drained gravelly or sandy soils that provide ample heat accumulation and help control its natural vigor, promoting even ripening and concentration.

Petit Verdot wines are typically deeply colored and firmly tannic, with moderate acidity and pronounced aromas of dark fruits, violets, graphite, and spice. In blending, it adds density, perfume, and structural backbone, while varietal bottlings—more common in warmer regions—show intense fruit, vivid color, and an age-worthy, muscular profile.