Why is my Claret sublisted as "cabernet sauvignon"?

RatherAnOddball · May 2, 2008

Hello!

I've been reading up at Dandyism.net, and very much enjoyed the article one Mister Mattis had written on wines. Inspired, I bought a bottle of Coppola Vineyards Claret, which he recommends - but when I got it home and read the label more carefully, I noticed that, in small print beneath "Claret," it was labeled "cabernet sauvignon."

I'm baffled - what's the connection between the two? Is cabernet sauvignon being sold as claret?

I'm wine-ignorant, obviously.

Thanks for your help!

contactme_11 · May 2, 2008

Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the world's most widely recognized red wine grape varieties. The name "Claret" is usually called "red Bordeaux" or just "Bordeaux". So what you have is no doubt just cabernet sauvignon grapes grown in the bordeaux region.

Manton · May 2, 2008

"Claret" is a British term for red Bordeaux, a wine from southeastern France. Cabernet sauvignon is a type of grape -- the most important Bordeaux grape, but not the only one. Most Bordeaux reds are blends of cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, and merlot.

Cabernet sauvignon is even bigger in Napa (where your wine came from) than in Bordeaux, hence your bottle appears to be 100% cab. Why Coppola chose to call it "claret" is a mystery on a number of levels. "Claret" suggests a Bordeaux style wine, that is, a blend, which produces a distinct flavor profile. 100% Cab is mostly a Napa thing.

Girardian · May 2, 2008

Now that you know what it is, open, drink, enjoy and post!

RatherAnOddball · May 2, 2008

Thanks for clearing that up! So if I'm able to find a wine listed as a "red Bordeaux" or "claret" that has either a list of blends or in any case does not specify any single wine as being its sole component, chances are that I'll have what I was initially curious to try?

In any case, this particular cab-incognito is, at least, much smoother than others that I've had. It isn't any sweeter than the average, but there's not a hint of bitterness in the aftertaste, which itself quickly fades. Shared with a chum over pre-dinner chat, it disappeared in record time. I quite like it, in any case better than any other cab that I can recall, and will get a few more bottles - but I'm still eager to see how the genuine article compares.

Thanks again!

Manton · May 2, 2008

You will almost never see the word "claret" outside the UK.

Bordeaux wines typically do not list the blend of grapes on their labels. It's not that they are trying to keep it a secret -- they will report it to the wine press -- but blends can change from vintage to vintage, and the general idea in Bordeaux is to let the house name speak for itself, and not treat wine as a chemistry experiment.

Mark from Plano · May 2, 2008

There are quite a few California vineyards that are marketing Clarets now, principally Cab/Merlot/Franc blends I believe. I love the Newton and I've seen several others, though I haven't tried that many.

Piobaire · May 2, 2008

Originally Posted by Manton

You will almost never see the word "claret" outside the UK.

Bordeaux wines typically do not list the blend of grapes on their labels. It's not that they are trying to keep it a secret -- they will report it to the wine press -- but blends can change from vintage to vintage, and the general idea in Bordeaux is to let the house name speak for itself, and not treat wine as a chemistry experiment.

I am not very sure on this, and no doubt maybe Concordia or someone can chime in, but I think it might actually be dis-allowed in Burgundy and Bordeaux to state what grapes are in the bottle.

To the OP, you seem to have a resource on that other webboard you speak of, why not ask that person?

Manton · May 2, 2008

Originally Posted by Mark from Plano

There are quite a few California vineyards that are marketing Clarets now, principally Cab/Merlot/Franc blends I believe. I love the Newton and I've seen several others, though I haven't tried that many.
I thought they mostly used the term "Meritage" for that in CA.

Originally Posted by Piobaire

I am not very sure on this, and no doubt maybe Concordia or someone can chime in, but I think it might actually be dis-allowed in Burgundy and Bordeaux to state what grapes are in the bottle.

Red Burg is always 100% Pinot.

I have seen lower end Bordeaux that list the blend, at least I think I have. I have never seen it from any of the classified growths, or their equivalents.

Mark from Plano · May 2, 2008

Originally Posted by Manton

I thought they mostly used the term "Meritage" for that in CA.

I see that as well, but I'm also seeing more marketed as claret. I'm no wine expert, it just happens that I was introduced to the Newton Claret several years ago and it was yummy. As he said, Coppola has a claret and I've seen a few others in the store.

Concordia · May 2, 2008

Originally Posted by Piobaire

I am not very sure on this, and no doubt maybe Concordia or someone can chime in, but I think it might actually be dis-allowed in Burgundy and Bordeaux to state what grapes are in the bottle.

Maybe, maybe not. I've seen a few low-end generics or simlar quality whites with the grape name, clearly because it makes Macon-Villages more marketable to the average American to put "Chardonnay" somewhere visible on the label. I can't remember if I've seen "Pinot Noir" similarly used on a Bourgogne Rouge. Maybe those are only for U.S. distribution?

One complicating factor is that not all white Burgs are 100% Chardonnay. There is a very little Pinot Blanc floating around in some vineyards, and then there is the famous "Pinot Gouges"-- an albino Pinot Noir from which the Gouges domaine makes a very interesting wine.

Finally, there is Bourgogne AligotÃ

, which by definition has the grape front and center on the label.

Piobaire · May 2, 2008

Originally Posted by Manton

Red Burg is always 100% Pinot.

I have seen lower end Bordeaux that list the blend, at least I think I have. I have never seen it from any of the classified growths, or their equivalents.

Are you absolutely sure every red wine that comes out of Burgundy is 100% pinot? Pretty sure Gamay gets grown there in the Beaujolais region, which administratively falls under Burgundy. That is just off the top of my head, there might well be other ones too, although they would be small in production.

Manton · May 2, 2008

Originally Posted by Piobaire

Are you absolutely sure every red wine that comes out of Burgundy is 100% pinot? Pretty sure Gamay gets grown there in the Beaujolais region, which administratively falls under Burgundy. That is just off the top of my head, there might well be other ones too, although they would be small in production.

I am not counting Beaujolais as Burgundy. No wine snob ever would. I'm talking about Cote d'Or, Cote de Nuits and Cote de Beaune.

Concordia · May 2, 2008

Originally Posted by Piobaire

Are you absolutely sure every red wine that comes out of Burgundy is 100% pinot? Pretty sure Gamay gets grown there in the Beaujolais region, which administratively falls under Burgundy. That is just off the top of my head, there might well be other ones too, although they would be small in production.

I certainly don't know the letter of the law, but I believe that red wine with Gamay blended in must be called "Bourgogne Passetoutgrains."

Of course, if you count Beaujolais as Burgundy--- as I sometimes do-- than that is a much more substantial exception. All those are 100% Gamay. At least, the ones that aren't made in Algeria.

Piobaire · May 2, 2008

Originally Posted by Manton

I am not counting Beaujolais as Burgundy. No wine snob ever would. I'm talking about Cote d'Or, Cote de Nuits and Cote de Beaune.

Ah, thanks for the clarification. I was just going under what those idiots, commonly known as the people making the wine, living there, and creating the administrative classifications, call it. What a fool am I?!

Why is my Claret sublisted as "cabernet sauvignon"?

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