You can get a site directory by clicking on the “hamburger” icon () in the upper right of this page.
Or you can search this site with Google (standard Google-search rules apply).
(Be aware that “sponsored” links to other sites will appear atop the actual results.)
Search term(s):
Welcome to That Useful Wine Site!
You have apparently come to this page from a link on a search engine or another site. If this is your first visit here, I much recommend that you take a few minutes to look over the introductory material accessible via the blue “Introductory” zone of the Site Menu available from the “hamburger” icon in the upper right of this (and every) page. An understanding of the purposes and principles of organization of this site will, I hope and believe, much augment your experience here, for this page and in general. You can simply click this link to get at the site front page, which, unsurprisingly, is the best place to start. Thank you for visiting.
(Synonyms: Cap de More, Dégoûtant, Morelet, Morillon, Mourrelet, Négralet, Négret, Négret de Gaillac, Négret du Tarn, Négrette de Fronton, Noirien, Pinot St George, Vesparo Noir.)
Négrette is a red-wine grape whose origins are clouded by time, but which has been cultivated in the Gaillac region of France since (as Jancis Robinson puts it) time immemorial. It is nowadays cultivated in southwestern France, notably around the town of Fronton, which gives its name to the Fronton appellation. In that region, Négrette must be at least 50% of a grower’s vineyard. The variety is rarely seen outside its AOP, save for some in San Benito County, California (where it was long known as Pinot St George).
Words that tend to crop up in describing Négrette wines are supple and perfumed. Many sources say that the wines should be drunk young, but others say that they can take at least some bottle age. Ya pays yer money an’ ya takes yer chances.
Négrette wines are normally quite deep in color. Their “perfume” seems, by report, to be very much of violets, but with all sorts of other interesting spice/herb aromas, and tastes. While Négrette is often used in blends, most reviewers seem firm on the point that its distinctive qualities get rapidly submerged by almost any blend partner, so monovarietal Négrettes are the ones to cherish. The wines are generally low in tannins and acidity, leading to that oft-mentioned “supple” or “silky” quality so much associated with the variety.
Factoid: Négrette is—with tedious regularity—said to have been brought to Europe from Cyprus by the Knights Templar. Maybe so, but there’s no evidence for it.
“Négrette is a dark red wine grape grown primarily in South West France in the region between Albi and Toulouse…Wine made from this grape tends to show versatility in being able to age moderately well and also be drunk young.”
“Negrette reds are soft, silky and perfumed, with…distinctive violet [aromas], along with certain animal and undergrowth flavors. Negrette wines are deeply pigmented and relatively low in tannins and acidity…”Unfortunately, much of the Negrette identity is lost if too-high a proportion of another variety is added…as its subtlety and suppleness are overpowered. For this reason, single-varietal wines are also popular, exhibiting Negrette’s true character.
“The red wine that is made from Négrette can be termed as a versatile wine as it shows versatility in its character. The first one to mention here is that this wine has a capability to age moderately nice but, it also tastes fabulous when young. The characters of the wine are fine while the wine is young and also while it ages. The pigment of the wine is quite deep. It has low amount of tannins as well as acidity…The reds are…soft and silky. They have an excellent perfume. They possess the similar violet aroma that the roses possess, but they have a typical animal and undergrowth flavour.”
“The wines produced with the Négrette grape variety are characterized by vivid colours and a low acidity and tannin content…Wines made from this grape tend to show versatility, because they are able to age moderately well and can also be drunk young.”
“Négrette has a very distinct character and profile, featuring aromas of anise and red fruit…On the palate, the wines can show strong dark and dried fruit flavors with very little tannins, lending the wine a pronounced suppleness. Winemakers making blends based on Négrette have to blend carefully with other grapes, as the delicate characteristics of the grape can be easily overpowered by more tannic varieties.”
If you have found that this site lives up to its name, “useful”, we would be grateful if you would post a link to it wherever you post on the internet—social media, websites, whatever—and also mention it to any wine-loving friends or co-workers. But, in any event, thanks for visiting!
) in the upper right of this page.
Some Descriptions of Négrette Wines
“Négrette is a dark red wine grape grown primarily in South West France in the region between Albi and Toulouse…Wine made from this grape tends to show versatility in being able to age moderately well and also be drunk young.”
“Negrette reds are soft, silky and perfumed, with…distinctive violet [aromas], along with certain animal and undergrowth flavors. Negrette wines are deeply pigmented and relatively low in tannins and acidity…”Unfortunately, much of the Negrette identity is lost if too-high a proportion of another variety is added…as its subtlety and suppleness are overpowered. For this reason, single-varietal wines are also popular, exhibiting Negrette’s true character.
“The red wine that is made from Négrette can be termed as a versatile wine as it shows versatility in its character. The first one to mention here is that this wine has a capability to age moderately nice but, it also tastes fabulous when young. The characters of the wine are fine while the wine is young and also while it ages. The pigment of the wine is quite deep. It has low amount of tannins as well as acidity…The reds are…soft and silky. They have an excellent perfume. They possess the similar violet aroma that the roses possess, but they have a typical animal and undergrowth flavour.”
“The wines produced with the Négrette grape variety are characterized by vivid colours and a low acidity and tannin content…Wines made from this grape tend to show versatility, because they are able to age moderately well and can also be drunk young.”
“Négrette has a very distinct character and profile, featuring aromas of anise and red fruit…On the palate, the wines can show strong dark and dried fruit flavors with very little tannins, lending the wine a pronounced suppleness. Winemakers making blends based on Négrette have to blend carefully with other grapes, as the delicate characteristics of the grape can be easily overpowered by more tannic varieties.”
“Perfumed, leathery and fruity all at once it is said that the Negrette is best consumed young.”