In message >
Michael Nielsen > wrote:

> On Saturday, February 7, 2015 at 9:38:25 PM UTC+1, santiago wrote:
>> Michael, La Tour Carnet, the property, is more than 60% Merlot. It is
>> possible that in 2003, which was a very hot year, they decided to keep
>> Merlot down since it is the grape that ripens the first and maybe some lots
>> were too high in alcohol before arriving to physiological ripeness. Not
>> that high alcohol is typically a problem for M. Magrez.

> The property has 50% merlot, but that means nothing regarding how much
> gets into the wine. Seems it changes a lot by vintage:


> 2003: 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 4%
> Petit Verdot"
> 2005: 58% Cabernet Sauvignon,42% Merlot
> 2006: 50% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon
> 2010: 53% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon and small quantities
> of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.
> 2011: 57% Merlot, 39% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Cabernet Franc
> and Petit Verdot
> 2012: Merlot 66% with the rest mostly Cabernet Sauvignon

> Im surprised that the blend changes that much form year to year. how
> can it be considered the same wine.



This is not untypical of the year to year variation of many, though by
no means all, Bordeaux blends — with perhaps the exception of 2012
where the variation does seem great given that — according to its
website — the vineyard is planted to 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 50%
Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. The growers seek to
make what they regard as the best wine possible from the vintage so
that in a hot year the proportion of Cabernet is likely to increase
to bring freshness to the wine which would otherwise be lacking in
that year. In a lighter or cooler year the proportion of Merlot is
likely to be higher to give the extra fruit and fullness to the wine.
Those growers who are particularly concerned to express terroir rather
than make a very modern wine which could be from anywhere will try to
achieve a wine which does just that and which will be recognisable as
their estate‘s wine from year to year even if it varies somewhat in
blend.

Tim Hartley