If you're going to top up with anything, a cab or a merlot would probably be
fine. Petit Verdot is often part of the Bordeaux blend with cab and merlot.
Better than water, for sure. But I don't know enough about Petit Verdot to
know which of the other varietals it matches closely. Maybe cab franc?

Are you going to bulk age? How much head space do you have? In the past I
have also used an inert gas to fill head space, rather than top up at all.
Our local liquor store sells small cans of gas (argon, I think) for
squirting into opened wine bottles to keep it longer.

I've tried it with carboys and airspace and had good results. Just a
thought.

Jeff

"Mark G." > wrote in message
...
>I started a Winexpert 2005 Limited Petit Verdot a couple weeks ago and
> want to top up with a decent wine rather than water. What would be a
> good wine to use? I was thinking of just using a cab or merlot?
>
> Mark