Tag Archives: petit verdot

Alpha Omega Cabernet Franc – Petit Verdot 2016, Napa Valley, USA

02 Tuesday Jun 2020

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Stunning purple in the glass with nice thin legs.  On the nose I get a huge dose of black currants, black berries and oaky vanilla.  Mint also makes an appearance.  On the initial palate it is really juicy with black fruits galore.  Beautiful oak is well integrated with coconut flavors present.  The tannic structure shows a gradual ramp up to reach a drying peak on the finish.  The mid palate is lush and fruity with some black tea, cassis, more coconut and capsicum.  The finish is dry with those nice tannins really gripping.  There’s a very balancing, juicy acidity that I’m really enjoying.  This wine begs to be drunk, it is a stunning example of how delicious Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot are as the prime components in wine.  93 points and 5 stars for this $104 stunner.  Drink till 2030.

Cameron Hughes Lot 638 Petit Verdot 2016, Yakima Valley, Oregon

24 Friday Jan 2020

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So- this is the second Cameron Hughes wine in a row.  Truth be told, I bought 4 cases of their wine, 24 different bottles X2 back in November.  I am doing a prolonged tasting of their excellently priced wine.  As a negociant they don’t grow their own grapes, relying on others for the raw product.  You should check them out on the web, great value for money.

Really dark, opaque – almost black in the glass. The legs are few and far between but they show off the 14.4% alcohol nicely.  On the nose there is sweet blackberries, mint, charcoal.  The palate is as I hoped- dark, tannic and multilayered.  Those blackberries reappear with iodine, violets and licorice.  The tannins grip, a lot.  They claw at my gums from the beginning to the end.  This varietal is normally part of a blend due to its tannic frame, brooding fruit and structure- but I do enjoy it by itself.  I get hankerings for a mouthfull of that dark, sweet fruit interlaced with hearty tannins.  The mid palate and finish echo the theme nicely with a decent length ending of blackberry, tannins and a touch of oak.  Delicious and powerful.  90 points and 5 stars for this $15 effort.  Drink till 2026 with hearty meat dishes.  Salut….

Bodegas Illana ‘Casa de Illana’ Tres de Cinco Crianza 2016, Ribera del Jucar, Spain

27 Wednesday Nov 2019

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A blend of 36% Petit Verdot, 28% Syrah, 20% Cab Sav and 16% Boral (Never heard of her)- got me excited to try this Spanish red that is a medium opacity purple in the glass.  On the nose it is reminds me of wild fruit, damson, red licorice and bramble.  There is a dustiness that is typical for Rioja’s but I have no experience with this appellation- Ribera del Jucar.  The initial palate is really nice with purple fruits galore.  Plum reduction, black cherry and really crispy tannins.  The structure is very solid with fine acidity balancing the tannic bite.  The mid palate has iodine and more black cherry with a touch of charcoal.  The finish is long and dry, the tannins starting to get hold of the gums.  It’s a nice feeling that I am enjoying for a good 30-45 seconds.  I like the combination of the blend, the Petit Verdot giving a nice backbone and some floral hints throughout.  Well made and drinkable till 2028 with some pasta, perhaps Strip Steak or even Osso Bucco.  91 points from me and 5 stars for this $13 gem.  Salut….

Proemio Red Blend 2017, Mendoza, Argentina

26 Friday Jul 2019

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Really dark in the glass.  On the nose I get Ribena, blueberry pie and hot stone.  On the palate it’s ginger, blackberry, cedar and evergreen.  There is a really nice tannic backbone, unobtrusive yet I sense some astringent components from them.  The mid palate is all blackberry jam.  The finish is really nice, smooth and very balanced between black fruits, a hint of acidity and those delightful tannins.  It’s quite long to boot.  This is a really nice weekday drinker that gets 90 points from me and 5 stars as it’s under $10.  Drink till 2023 with pizza, burgers, sirloin or pasta.  Blend of Malbec, Cabernet Petit Verdot.  Salut….

Proemio Reserve Petit Verdot 2015, Mendoza, Argentina

18 Thursday Jul 2019

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I really like Petit Verdot, blended or standalone.  When I saw this Argentinian bottle of it, I had to try.

As expected it is pretty dark and broody in the glass.  The nose has a sweet perfume of blackberries, licorice and violet.  On the palate this wine has a tartness alongside creosote, black fruit and sour cherry.  The midpalate is quite dry, tannins enveloping the fruit and coating my teeth.  I can feel them getting a purple stain.  They don’t subside either.  The finish is bone dry but I do get more blackberries and some tea.  Wow, it’s a long finish too.  There’s ample reason why a stand-alone PV doesn’t appeal to the masses- it can be too tannic, one dimensional and lacking in fruit whilst heavy in structure.  This is a good example.  It’s not everyone’s cup of tea but I enjoy the mouthfeel and weight every so often.  89 points and 3 stars for this $18 bottle.  Drink till 2027 with Ribeye, leg of lamb or rich stew.  Salut….

Murrieta’s Well Petit Verdot 2017, Livermore Valley, USA

20 Thursday Jun 2019

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Dark purple in the glass.  On the nose there’s sweet lingonberry, French oak notes and charcoal.  On the palate this wine is delicious- black fruits galore. Lilac, delicious oak without the flab and gorgeous tannins all caress my palate.  The finish is super duper….long, a touch dry with that dark fruit jam that is delicious.  92 points $56 makes this a 4 star effort that was the wine of the day for me.  Drink till 2028 with all sorts of meats and stews.  Salut….

Baer Winery Arctos 2013, Columbia Valley, USA

09 Sunday Sep 2018

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Very dark in the glass, somewhat murky.  The nose is lush with plums, eucalyptus, bramble and fir tree.  On the palate it echoes the flavors with delicious purple plum paste and fresh earthy herbs.  A green note pops up on the mid palate which gives a bit of pique.  The tannins are well integrated and the acidity shines through at the end.   Green bitterness hits right on the back end which detracted me for a sec.  I love the blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (84%) with the rest equal parts Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.  The greenness I’m guessing is from the Verdot.  Overall a very delicious, layered wine that drinks well now through 2022.  90 points and 4 stars for this $40 effort.  Salut….

KWV The Legend Big Bill Red 2014, Western Cape, South Africa

27 Thursday Jul 2017

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This blend is really dark purple.  Made up of 60% Petit Verdot, 20% each of Cab Sav and Shiraz.  The nose is bursting with currants, juniper, a touch of oak and black cherry.  The palate is very interesting and tasty.  The Petit Verdot punches through with violets, dark cherry and leather.  Tannins are persistent but not overpowering, they leave the gums slightly dry but give the wine a freshness.  The mid palate gives me mocha as well as more dark cherries.  The finish reveals a vanilla note as well as some wood.  The winemaker has done a superb job of balancing the acidity, tannins and the 14% alcohol- which is not noticeable.  The mouthfeel is what I would describe as wholesome yet fresh.  It is relatively smooth with great potential to mellow out and possibly develop tertiary flavor.  90 points from me, drink till 2025 and pair it with lamb chops and garlic mash.  5 stars because this wine rocks and it runs a mere $9 (But I found it for $6.09 in NJ, you people should be running to that store).  Salut….

the legend of big bill ridiculously big

Michael David Petite Petit Lodi Central Valley California 2014

12 Wednesday Oct 2016

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Moxie and I went to the local Costco yesterday and I steered us into the wine aisle…  I picked up some interesting wines but the label on this one sold both Moxie and me.  She’s a graphic artist by trade and has a good eye for marketing.  This label was a winner.  I glanced at the back label and immediately decided I needed to try this blend of 85% Petite Sirah and 15% Petit Verdot.

Wow, what a beautiful dark purple in the glass.  A nose of twizzlers, strawberry jam and some oak.  It’s not my favorite profile but I’ll wait to taste.  The initial taste is deelish.  This is a rich wine that starts off with black cherries, dark stone fruit and strawberries on the mid palate.  Ripe tannins round it out for a balanced mouthfeel. The wine finishes strong with notes of cherries jubilee laced with some tannins.  I’m loving the flavor profile if not the aromas.  I bought this wine for $12.89 at Costco.  You know I love both Petite Sirah and Petit Verdot which makes this wine really appealing.  It rates a 90 with me and that makes it a must buy and 5 stars.  I’m getting more in the morning.  Drink now till 2019 with red meat, venison and stews.  A perfect fall wine.  Besides, look at that cool label- winner!  Salut….
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Arrayán Petit Verdot 2007

21 Friday Mar 2014

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You don’t often come across a 100% Petit Verdot, it is used mainly as a blend in Bordeaux style wines.  It’s a fiercely tannic, bold and dark wine used to bulk up other, less endowed wines needing a little darkening and structure.  If you do find one that is all PV, try it and you’ll see what I’m on about.

Typical for the variety this wine was a tannic monster with an earthy nose and some funk on the initial attack.  Pencil shavings of wood and graphite add to the olfactory experience and wild flowers come up on the mid palate with a blueberry component that is quite pronounced.  On the back end is where ripe plums came into the picture.  This wine was very dark in the glass, full of backbone and needing a fatty steak to mellow it out.  I am going with 89 points and 3 stars for this $27 offering from Spain.  I think anyone who is trying to expand their palates needs a good dose of 100% Petit Verdot to appreciate its power and potential to beef up other wines.  Ps.  I finished the bottle up with some new Lindt chocolate that rocked , Caramel with a touch of Sea Salt, ever so crunchy, ever so smooth.  Salut….IMG_0848

Lindt's Caramel and Sea Salt

Lindt’s Caramel and Sea Salt