Decanter World Wine AwardsBordeaux reclaims 'claret' name
- Thursday 3 November 2011
Though it has fallen out of fashion, the word claret – from ‘clairet’ or clear - was for centuries used by the British as a generic term for Bordeaux red wine.
Allan Sichel, managing director of Sichel wine merchants and president of the Union des Maisons de Negoce de Bordeaux, told Decanter.com that the intention is to use Claret de Bordeaux for wines that are ‘light and fruity, easy to drink, in the same style as the original claret when it was prized by the English in former centuries’.
The expectation is that the term will be used mainly by AOC Bordeaux, AOC Bordeaux Superieur and AOC Cotes de Bordeaux, to allow them to create new brands with a clear taste profile for consumers.
‘It is not a new appellation,’ a spokesperson for Bordeaux trade body the CIVB confirmed, ‘but a commercial brand aimed at re-invigorating the everyday drinking category of Bordeaux wines.’
‘The term has never been official before, and has never used by the French,’ said Sichel, ‘but for the new brand to work, it needs it to have legitimacy not only in England, but in all export markets, and within France itself. We feel confident that it is simple and clear enough to work.’
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Have your say!
Hal
May 25 21:00
I have no problem with the French reclaiming their heritage, but mixing English (Claret) and French (de Bordeaux) in the same term merely adds to the confusion in this particular "export market," in my opinion.
We Americans use the terms "claret" and "Bordeaux" interchangeably to some degree, but more properly "Bordeaux" for those of French origin, and "claret" for others.
It's my understanding that the original clairets were closer to a rosé than the deep reds we associate with the clarets of today.
Is the proposed term to apply to all Bordeaux, or just to those of the lighter clairet variety? Why not say Clairet de Bordeaux and be done with it?
peter
November 07 17:07
I have used this term for years whats the big deal
Len
November 04 18:25
Claret is a generic term used by many wineries to designate a red wine blend. I doubt they can trademark this term/name in the US.
Tom
November 04 17:05
The French have as much claim to exclusive use of the term "claret" as they do to "Cabernet Sauvignon" or any other widely used and well understood term - IOW none whatsoever. Besides, the English originated the word so if anyone has a right to copyright it _they_ do!