Scope of the blending discussion and some noteworthy blends

New World winemakers have mostly conquered the production and marketing of their varietal wines and many of them are now pursuing improved quality and new customers by increasing the number of blended wines in their portfolio.  The considerations in wine blending are depicted below.

Bordeaux: 
- Cabernet Sauvignon -- firmness, structure, perfume, multi-berry palate
- Cabernet Franc -- savory layers, complex dried herb notes, perfume, freshness, length
- Merlot -- fleshiness, softens up Cabernet Sauvignon, palate-broadening
- Petit Verdot -- freshness, firmness, palate length
- Malbec -- soft tannins

Bordeaux Blanc:
- Sauvignon Blanc -- aromatics, acidity
- Semillon -- textural breadth and depth
- Muscadelle -- florality

Meritage
- Red or white
- Made from a minimum of two of the varieties used in the production of Bordeaux red and white wines
- No varietal must exceed 90% of blend

Chateauneuf-de-Pape:
- 13 varieties

Cotes-du-Rhone:
- Grenache -- alcohol, jam, spice, dried fruits
- Syrah -- pepper, leather, smoke
- Mourvedre -- color, acid, tannins

Rhone Whites:
- Viognier -- peach, apricot, honeysuckle
- Roussanne -- bouquet, delicacy, finesse
- Marsanne -- color, body, weight, scented fruit
- Grenache Blanc -- sweet honeysuckle, apricot
- Clairette -- alcohol, peach, apricot

Rioja:
- Tempranillo -- spicy red fruit, herbaceousness, minerality
- Garnacha -- enhance texture, widen palate, rich and peppery red fruit, cinnamon notes
- Mazuelo -- structure, longevity, fresshness, vigor
- Graciano -- Tobacco, licorice, acidity

Rioja Blanca:
- Viura -- floral aromas
- Malvasia -- floral aromas, grapefruit aromas, structure
- Garnacha Blanca -- sweet honeysuckle, apricot

Chianti:
- Sangiovese -- acid, tannin, fruit flavors
- Canaiola -- fruitiness, softness

Penfolds Grange
- Cross-Region Shiraz blend -- dense fruit flavors, pepper, leather, smoke

Cava:
- Parrellada -- delicacy, aroma
- Macabeo -- soft wildflowers, bitter almonds
- Xarel-lo -- body, acidity, alcohol

Sherry:
- Palomino
- Pedro Ximinez
- Moscatel de Alejandria

Champagne:
- Chardonnay -- stone fruit, apple, citrus
- Pinot Noir -- berry fruit
- Pinot Meunier -- florality, red fruit

Tokaj:
- Furmint -- finesse, structure
- Harslevelu -- aromatics
- Zeta -- creamy structure, tropical fruit notes

Port:
- Touriga Nacional -- raspberry, cassis, mulberry, violets, high tannin
- Touriga Franca -- red fruits, blackberries, florality
- Tinta Roriz -- mulberry, cherry, jam, spicy nose, blackberry, high tannins
- Tinta Cao -- pepper, spice, sweetness, floral notes
- Tinta Barroca -- high tannins

Franciacorta
- Chardonnay -- fruit and flower aromas, full body, crispness
- Pinot Nero -- body, longevity
- Pinot Bianco -- body, elegance, acidity, fresh-bread aroma


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