HOT NEW SINGLE VARIETALS - NEGRETTE

I wanted to dedicate a portion of this blog to helping you, dear reader, discover new varietals that are off the beaten path. A lot of the time, it’s these single varietal wines bordering upon the esoteric that are usually a pretty good value.

I think a lot of this is because the geekier varietals have that “unknown factor” which makes them less in demand to American palates and therefore - cheaper.

So because I’m always looking after my Thurstqueens and Thurstkings and trying to help them buy wines that are the biggest bang for their buck, I wanted to start writing about some of the more interesting - and affordable! - wines in the world and where to find them. So without further ado, let’s talk about quite possibly one of my favorite geeky red varietals that ever existed.

NEGRETTE - A GRAPEY FEMME FATALE

Negrette is for lovers. Simply put. This varietal is commonly found in Southwestern France, more specifically the Fronton AOC. It is said to have originated in Cyprus and been brought over to France via the Knights of Templar. It generally thrives in hotter climates - and there are a teeny tiny amount of California wineries who deal with this beautiful varietal and make its distinctively dark, floral wines.

Imagine fragrant violets dipped in pheromones, with kisses of wild fennel and licorice. The aromas of Negrette are highly floral, so if the idea of dirty flowers appeals to you or you like highly complicated floral perfumes and the scent of leather - this is the red wine you need to try. Basically, if Tom Ford Black Orchid is a perfume you like, ya gotta snag a bottle of this stuff.

On the palate, Negrette has the same fruitiness of Cabernet Sauvignon, but minus the tannins. If you’re a fan of Italian wines like Lagrein or Anglianico you should absolutely give Negrette a try. Negrette is definitely on the fruitier side, but it’s not sweet at all. Picture deliciously ripe and decadent black cherries with a soft, lightly velvet texture.

This wine is sophisticated and sexy as all get out.

If you’re looking to find a great Negrette to try - be sure to check out the

PICK OF THE WEEK - CHÂTEAU FLOTIS ‘SI NOIRE’ NEGRETTE 2015 - $16.99 @ AOC WINES

I collect wine like I collect records. I discovered the Château Flotis Si Noire in 2014 and still remember that moment. It was somewhere in Little Tokyo in Downtown LA, and I had it with some kind of duck dish. But the wine was absolutely crazy. It was all the things I love about Negrette. Floral, gamey, complicated, and darkly sexy.

It had this distinctive animal thing going on and was super heady on the nose, with aromas of liquid amber and tonka bean. Basically it’s an intense and kinky wine. Not only can you taste the dark cherries on this wine, but you get some creamy licorice and violet notes as well.

This wine is absolutely excellent with any sort of meat braised dish. It’s not super tannic, so you could even have it with roast chicken and cheeses and be very happy. You definitely want to make sure you’re pairing it with something that’s a bit heartier or even spicy - like a pot roast or something. I bet you this wine would be very good with Asian inspired cuisine because it’s got that great mixture of fruit, floral and spice.

This wine is extremely hard to find, and I was lucky enough to find it at AOC wines, this cool little wine shop in Los Angeles. I may have purchased more than one bottle just to be safe.

So what do you guys think? Will you give Negrette a shot?