red grape · regional specialty
Négrette
Fronton, Southwest France
Say it
nay·gret
The -ette ending is fully pronounced; the R is French (uvular), not English.
On the palate
Body
light medium
Acidity
low
Tannin
low
Aromatics
pronounced
violetraspberrystrawberryblackberrylicoriceblack pepper
How you spot it blind: Intense violet perfume carried on a soft, low-tannin, low-acid frame
The story
First written down · 14th century, Southwest France
DNA testing in 1997 revealed that California's 'Pinot St-George,' long assumed a Burgundy clone, was Négrette, a variety documented in southwest France since the 14th century that today must form 50–70% of any Fronton AOC blend.
Where it lives
Fronton AOC, France · Fiefs Vendéens, France
Shows up as
still redroséFronton AOC
If you like this, try
Also answers to Negrette.
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