The Caladoc grape is a rather intriguing vine variety that originates from France. It was created in 1958 by Paul Truel, a noted plant geneticist, in Montpellier. Interestingly, the grape is a hybrid variety, a product of a successful cross between two very popular grapes - Grenache and Malbec.
Being a mid-season grape, Caladoc tends to ripen evenly, typically in September. This grape exhibits a strong resistance to certain diseases, making it a preferred choice of several winegrowers across various regions. Its hardiness also makes it adaptable to a wide variety of climates, although it excels particularly in warm, dry climates where the grape can ripen fully and uniformly.
The grape clusters of the Caladoc variety are characteristically medium to large, presenting an appealing deep blue-black hue when ripe. The berries themselves are meaty and juicy with a thick skin that imparts flavour and colour to the resulting wines.
In terms of taste, Caladoc grapes are known for their full-bodied profile and distinctively fruity notes. The resulting wine is usually robust and aromatic, offering a rich palate of dark fruits, such as blackberry and blackcurrant. Some even detect nuances of spices and herbs. The grape's thick skin imparts hefty tannins to the wine, allowing it to age beautifully.
However, despite its distinctive characteristics and the excellent wines it produces, Caladoc is not a widely recognised grape. This partly due to it not being officially permitted in any of France's Appellation d'Origine Protégée (AOP) wines. Nonetheless, it has found popularity in numerous New World wine regions and is often used as a blending component, adding complexity and a bold richness to the wine.
Overall, the Caladoc grape is an intriguing blend, marrying Grenache's warm fruitiness with the bold structure of Malbec, to produce uniquely charming wines that are both complex and satisfying.
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