Alcohol content of wine is on the rise
The alcohol content of modern wines is creeping up, it seems, which may prompt winemakers to take action to control the levels of alcohol in their produce.
Writing for the Indian Wine Academy, author Rajiv Seth said that the trend towards boozier wines may be partially blamed on eminent critic Robert Parker, who tends to award higher scores to high alcohol wines in his magazine, The Wine Advocate.
However, Paul Pontallier of chateau Margaux told the website that warmer climates, late harvesting and greater leaf clearing are also leaving wines around the world with a higher alcohol content than has typically been seen in the past.
"Experts point out that a good wine ought to be between 11 and 12 per cent of alcohol," commented Mr Seth.
"Below this the wine runs the risk of being weak and small, unless it is particularly rich in aroma. Above that it is hot and too heady."
Chateau Margaux's 2009 vintage was recently described as an "astonishing" wine by the Wall Street Journal, which praised its "depth of flavour and fruit".