Which grapes are represented in your cellar? For me it’s:
(now edited to include consumption % in brackets)
Nebbiolo 18.8% (12.2% of consumed bottles)
Red Blend (Mostly Musar) 8.6% (7.5%)
Syrah 6.7% (7.9%)
Sangiovese 4.9% (4.3%)
Tempranillo 4.2% (2.5%)
White Blend 4.0% (1.5%)
Red Bordeaux Blend 3.7% (8.6%)
Cabernet Sauvignon 3.5% (5.4%)
Pinot Noir 3.0% (3.0%)
Corvina 2.7% (1.9%)
Muscat 2.5% (3.1%)
Riesling 2.2% (5.3%)
Champagne Blend 2.0% (1.1%)
Chardonnay 2.0% (6.5%)
Baga 1.5%
Malbec 1.5% (2.4%)
Mourvedre 1.5%
Port Blend 1.5% (1.1%)
Nosiola 1.2%
Teroldego 1.2%
Sémillon 1.2%
Timorasso 1.0%
Montepulciano 1.0%
Chenin Blanc 1.0% (2.1%)
Others (each less than 1%) 18.6%
Red Rhone blend (2.3%)
Corvina (1.9%)
Barbera (1.6%)
Semillon-Sauv Blanc blends (1.4%)
Sauv Blanc (1.2%)
Commentary
- Nebbiolo clearly a strong favourite and I reckon one in five is about where I want to be, though with the typical longevity, I need to top up again on a favourite nebbiolo d’Alba to ensure there is enough that I’d be happy to open.
- Syrah hides a slow but steady move from Aussie Shiraz to Northern Rhone Syrah
- A decade ago, the Cab Sauv / Bdx blend number would probably have topped the chart
- Pinot Noir might be higher, but for the price rises in Red Burg
- Chardonnay, like Cab Sauv, would have been easily the leading white grape. When my next delivery lands it may be relegated even further by Nosiola! It has a place, but it’s almost always confirmed favourites rather than new experiments.
- The ‘Others’, currently at 18.6%, has been increasing, as I’ve made a conscious effort to explore outside my comfort zone. Grapes like Timorasso, Teroldego, Nosiola and Baga have started from a first taste to be emerging interest. There are maybe a dozen sitting below 1% that might be on a similar list in 2-3 year’s time, with Vespolina about to sneak in
Regards
Ian