Braquet

Braquet is one of the old traditional grapes grown in the Bellet area  already known in the 18th century, and a local family name in Bellet is also Braquet – but there is no known connection and whether the grape is named after the family or family after the grape is unknown.

In 1783-4 Braquet was described as being of a light reddish colour, sweet enough to eat and good if blended with other varieties.  But Foderé  in 1821 commented that Braquet was so much admired that it was used to make a varietal wine simply called ‘vin braquet’. The grapes’ sweetness was much admired. The ‘Guide des Étrangers a Nice’ (1827) described wine made from braquet as a dessert wine which resembled the Spanish sweet wine ‘Rota’  – a helpful clue as to how the wine tasted. Rota was made with dry raisined grapes and fortified before the fermentation finished, resulting in a strong sweet wine. By the 1840s the limited quantity of vin braquet contributed to its rarity and price.

Braquet’s pale colour has made it less popular for making a deep red wine, but when carefully handled makes a wine with fragrant floral fruit aromas with hints of carnation and rose and fresh red fruit.

Good examples of Braquet character can be found in the following wines:

Via Julia Augusta‘s red wine which has a 1/3 each of Folle Noir, Braquet and Grenache and the floral character is quite evident.

Domaine St Jean rosé, Braquet with some Cinsault. Aromatic floral aromas developing with some bottle age.

Domaine de Toasc rosé shows good fresh red fruit character.

Chateau de Bellet baron G rosé is made with old vine Braquet which gives a greater intensity of flavour and structure. Pronounced fresh red fruit and raspberries.