Wines that have significant graphite?

[J. Migone]

Looking for wines that show significant graphite under $50? Any suggestions? We can go over by a reasonable amount...

[Ramon C]

Look no further than many young Bordeaux.

edited to add:

Here are some that I've had in previous vintages where I frequently noted to have graphite notes in them. My experiences with graphite tend to be more p[ronounced with these communes. 2014 vintage was the last that I kind of looked around in Bordeaux pricing and these were at or below your $50 requirement.

Margaux: du Tertre, Labegorce, Marquis de Terme, Prieure Lichine
Pauillac: d’Armhaillac, Haut Batailley, Haut Bages Liberal, La Tourette
St. Julien: St. Pierre, Ch. Gloria, Talbot
Haut Medoc: Cantemerle, Sociando Mallet, Caronne St Gemme, Charmail, Chasse Spleen

[J. Migone]

Which ones.... I've yet to find it...

[Arv R]

I'd look for Pauillac's, maybe with a decade on them.

[Kelly Walker]

Try stirring your wine with a pencil.

Pauillac is your best bet.

[Ramon C]

Which ones.... I've yet to find it...

Edited my note above to add suggestions as you requested.

[J. Migone]

Thank you!

[Mikael OB]

Looking for wines that show significant graphite under $50? Any suggestions? We can go over by a reasonable amount...

Aargh! I'm sure you didn't intend this, but your trolling me.

Do you mean lead pencil aromas? If so, the characteristic scent of pencils is really the cedar that's used for the pencils, not the lead.

Graphite is odorless and its use as a descriptor seems to be based on a confusion between the scent of pencil wood and the lead. (The wax that graphite is mixed with in pencils does has a very faint odor, but I don't think that's what anyone is referring to.)

Over time, people (including many critics) began substituting "graphite" for "lead pencil" when what they're really referring to is the scent of cedar. ("Cigar box" is a classic descriptor for Bordeaux. Cigar boxes are often made of cedar and, of course, take on tobacco notes, too.)

For a fuller treatment, see this thread on the topic, and this illustrated graphite sniffing research.

OK, that's my rant about careless wine vocabulary for the day. Please forgive me.

[Robert.A.Jr.]

Looking for wines that show significant graphite under $50? Any suggestions? We can go over by a reasonable amount...

Aargh! I'm sure you didn't intend this, but your trolling me.

Do you mean lead pencil aromas? If so, the characteristic scent of pencils is really the cedar that's used for the pencils, not the lead.

Graphite is odorless and its use as a descriptor seems to be based on a confusion between the scent of pencil wood and the lead. (The wax that graphite is mixed with in pencils does has a very faint odor, but I don't think that's what anyone is referring to.)

Over time, people (including many critics) began substituting "graphite" for "lead pencil" when what they're really referring to is the scent of cedar. ("Cigar box" is a classic descriptor for Bordeaux. Cigar boxes are often made of cedar and, of course, take on tobacco notes, too.)

For a fuller treatment, see this thread on the topic, and this illustrated graphite sniffing research.

OK, that's my rant about careless wine vocabulary for the day. Please forgive me.

Damn Johnny you are wound tight!

I had to warn you first.

[J. Migone]

Looking for wines that show significant graphite under $50? Any suggestions? We can go over by a reasonable amount...

Aargh! I'm sure you didn't intend this, but your trolling me.

Do you mean lead pencil aromas? If so, the characteristic scent of pencils is really the cedar that's used for the pencils, not the lead.

Graphite is odorless and its use as a descriptor seems to be based on a confusion between the scent of pencil wood and the lead. (The wax that graphite is mixed with in pencils does has a very faint odor, but I don't think that's what anyone is referring to.)

Over time, people (including many critics) began substituting "graphite" for "lead pencil" when what they're really referring to is the scent of cedar. ("Cigar box" is a classic descriptor for Bordeaux. Cigar boxes are often made of cedar and, of course, take on tobacco notes, too.)

For a fuller treatment, see this thread on the topic, and this illustrated graphite sniffing research.

OK, that's my rant about careless wine vocabulary for the day. Please forgive me.

While I appreciate the rant and get your point.....can you also provide any recommendations....

[John Morris]

I'm not drinking a lot of Bordeaux these days, which is the category where this is classic, so I'm no help. Alfert is the man to listen to. I'm only here to give you a hard time.

[Keith Levenberg]

Fonbadet, Sociando-Mallet, Grand Puy Ducasse

[GregT]

Looking for wines that show significant graphite under $50? Any suggestions? We can go over by a reasonable amount...

Do you mean lead pencil aromas? If so, the characteristic scent of pencils is really the cedar that's used for the pencils, not the lead.

Graphite is odorless and its use as a descriptor seems to be based on a confusion between the scent of pencil wood and the lead. (The wax that graphite is mixed with in pencils does has a very faint odor, but I don't think that's what anyone is referring to.)

So are you suggesting that none of the carbon allotropes have an aroma?

The classic Eberhard-Faber was probably cedar. A fine writing instrument that could become a deadly weapon. (See G. Gordon Liddy)

Today we have Smencils.

Made from old newspaper permeated with exotic scents.

https://www.vat19.com/item/smencils-gou ... ed-pencils

[Corey N.]

While BDX is classic, if looking new world, I would seek out WA Cabernet. Unfortunately, this is not something I drink often, so I cannot give you a list of producers to seek out.

[John Telford]

I recently had a bottle of Chateau Gloria (mid range pricing) which I think displays the attributes you are looking find. But I also like the Washington State suggestions, even though Merlot based....try the Longshadow Merlot.

[Robert.A.Jr.]

Fonbadet, Sociando-Mallet, Grand Puy Ducasse

Grand Puy Lacoste

[Chris Seiber]

I feel like good Argentine malbecs and blends feature that significantly. Achaval Ferrer Quimera is a very nice wine at around $35-40 which is fairly easy to find.

[Markus S]

I'm unclear on the term graphite.
As John points out, are you talking about lead pencil (which Bordeaux has in spades), or about a mineral quality (which is how I've seen it used before)?

[Kent Comley]

Sometimes see it in Priorat reds, such as Terroir Al Limit's wines. Low yields and real stoniness. Also in some Coonawarra CSs. But sometimes it is the oak (and char) that lends the graphite aromas.

[Paul @bbott]

Looking for wines that show significant graphite under $50? Any suggestions? We can go over by a reasonable amount...

Aargh! I'm sure you didn't intend this, but your trolling me.

Do you mean lead pencil aromas? If so, the characteristic scent of pencils is really the cedar that's used for the pencils, not the lead.

Graphite is odorless and its use as a descriptor seems to be based on a confusion between the scent of pencil wood and the lead. (The wax that graphite is mixed with in pencils does has a very faint odor, but I don't think that's what anyone is referring to.)

.

Over time, people (including many critics) began substituting "graphite" for "lead pencil" when what they're really referring to is the scent of cedar. ("Cigar box" is a classic descriptor for Bordeaux. Cigar boxes are often made of cedar and, of course, take on tobacco notes, too.)

For a fuller treatment, see this thread on the topic, and this illustrated graphite sniffing research.

OK, that's my rant about careless wine vocabulary for the day. Please forgive me.

I have found both graphite and cedar in wines, the cedar is often on the nose, the graphite is more of a mineral flavour/texture on the palette. 2004 Belgrave was the first wine for me that I wrote graphite in my tasting note.

[Roy Piper]

I find that graphite/lead pencil descriptor is caused when (for Cabernet and Franc), a slight amount of pyrazine meets a slight amount of reduction. I adore that aroma. Notice that most of the Bordeaux wines with that aroma mentioned here are from the Left Bank and Cab-heavy. Because that's where higher ripeness is harder to achieve, thus leaving a bit of pyrazine in the Cab and Franc, which naturally have more of it than any other red varietal in the region. In St. Emilion they are reaching 15% alcohol nowadays so by that point the odds of getting that aroma is likely gone. And in Napa it is harder to get that aroma too, although south of Rutherford gives you a chance if you don't pick too ripe. It appeals to some and others flee from it. If you are not careful, the pyrazines can provide bell pepper or veggie aromas. But if you can get it ripe enough to hold a little black or green olive in the flavor profile and then it gets some reduction.... voila! I find the "cigar box" is when you marry the lead pencil aroma to a moderate dose of Taransaud new oak.

[John Morris]

Looking for wines that show significant graphite under $50? Any suggestions? We can go over by a reasonable amount...

Aargh! I'm sure you didn't intend this, but your trolling me.

Do you mean lead pencil aromas? If so, the characteristic scent of pencils is really the cedar that's used for the pencils, not the lead.

Graphite is odorless and its use as a descriptor seems to be based on a confusion between the scent of pencil wood and the lead. (The wax that graphite is mixed with in pencils does has a very faint odor, but I don't think that's what anyone is referring to.)

.

Over time, people (including many critics) began substituting "graphite" for "lead pencil" when what they're really referring to is the scent of cedar. ("Cigar box" is a classic descriptor for Bordeaux. Cigar boxes are often made of cedar and, of course, take on tobacco notes, too.)

For a fuller treatment, see this thread on the topic, and this illustrated graphite sniffing research.

OK, that's my rant about careless wine vocabulary for the day. Please forgive me.

I have found both graphite and cedar in wines, the cedar is often on the nose, the graphite is more of a mineral flavour/texture on the palette. 2004 Belgrave was the first wine for me that I wrote graphite in my tasting note.

Whatever it is you're smelling, it's not graphite, because that is odorless. I don't know what graphite texture or flavor would be, either.

[John Morris]

I find that graphite/lead pencil descriptor is caused when (for Cabernet and Franc), a slight amount of pyrazine meets a slight amount of reduction. I adore that aroma. Notice that most of the Bordeaux wines with that aroma mentioned here are from the Left Bank and Cab-heavy. Because that's where higher ripeness is harder to achieve, thus leaving a bit of pyrazine in the Cab and Franc, which naturally have more of it than any other red varietal in the region. In St. Emilion they are reaching 15% alcohol nowadays so by that point the odds of getting that aroma is likely gone. And in Napa it is harder to get that aroma too, although south of Rutherford gives you a chance if you don't pick too ripe. It appeals to some and others flee from it. If you are not careful, the pyrazines can provide bell pepper or veggie aromas. But if you can get it ripe enough to hold a little black or green olive in the flavor profile and then it gets some reduction.... voila! I find the "cigar box" is when you marry the lead pencil aroma to a moderate dose of Taransaud new oak.

Thanks for the chemistry lesson. That's very helpful!

[Kelly Walker]

Having replaced brushes on large motor-generator sets and being covered head to toe in graphite in the process, I can attest that is has no odor. But what a mess!