Abouriou is a red grape variety that seems to be native to the South West region of France, specifically Lot-et-Garonne. It is often used in the production of full-bodied, rich red wines and is popularly known for its high tannin content and robust structure. The grape is quite rare, being found mainly in the areas of Gaillac, Cahors, and Buzet, although it's starting to make a name for itself elsewhere, too.
The vine of Abouriou is highly resistant to various vine diseases which makes it a favourable choice for local viticulture. The grape generally has small bunches of little, almost black berries that present a thick skin. This provides the grape with a good resistance to disease and transportation, while ensuring a significant presence of tannins and colouring matter.
Wines made from the Abouriou grape are usually deeply coloured and full-bodied. They offer complex, rustic flavours with fruit-forward profiles that commonly exhibit notes of raspberry, cherry and plum, sometimes complimented with hints of black pepper, earthy undertones or spices.
This grape is used both as a single varietal wine and a blending grape. When blended, it heightens the wine's colour, structure and depth of flavour, and is often kept in oak barrels to soften its high tannin levels.
Abouriou is growing in popularity as a niche variety for wine lovers who are in pursuit of unique, characterful and flavourful wines. Although it’s still quite obscure, the profile of the grape variety is slowly but surely rising. The character richness and robust structure of Abouriou gives it great wine ageing potential, ensuring that bottles can be appreciated for many years post-vintage. These distinctive attributes have made Abouriou a favourite pick amongst wine enthusiasts who fancy a flavour-filled journey on their palate, especially pairing well with indulgent meat dishes and aged cheeses.
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