Oak has diminished, drastically, but not sure this is improving with age. Still no floral notes on nose; fruit forward, with lots of black fruits, but very heavy mouthfeel and somewhat 1 dimensional
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Similar notes to 2017: no hints of fading flavors or color, oak still a bit more than I like; wait another 2-3 years before trying again, in hopes oak will continue to fade
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Big wine! Chewy and dense still, really good structure and black ripe fruits that have soften a little with age. Powerful finish, yet doesn't linger as long as I thought it would. Great petit verdot that is in its prime now.
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Interesting example of aged CA Petit Verdot; floral on the nose to the point of being in a flower garden; strong and smooth finish. Tanins still alive and kicking.
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This wine evolves over time. Initially I was surprised by tannin level being lower than expected, and acidity higher. But the tannins build over time, to a nice high level. The dark fruit, molasses, tobacco nose and palate are also accompanied by an unripe, green vegetal note that detracts from it. I was drinking this alongside an 07 Cab Franc (Wm Harrison), and I definitely preferred the Cab Franc. Not bad, but not memorable. This was better the second and third days - the vegetal notes were gone and it was smoother.
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This is just a bit young and the oak is not very integrated. That being said, with air or by the second day, most of the oak blows off revealing a very nice wine. It's juicy but dry. The mouthfeel is good. The strength of the wine lies in the solid back-palate and appreciable finish.
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Big sort of cranberry red fruit, with a bit of funk, at first. That blew off after a while, revealing some darker fruit and tannins. What I've liked in the few Petit Verdots I've had in the past was their intense dark fruit nd powerful tannin structure, so this one was a bit of a disappointment.
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Inky Black fruit, leather, earth, herbs. Nice balance with decent length. Didn't change much over the several hours it was opened. This is a great bottle if you want to try this varietal on its own and well worth the money at $16-20.
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This was enjoyable the first night, but really came into its own on the second. I was surprised to learn that this is a sufficiently serious offering to require time to open. Once it did, it showed rich inkiness, saddle leather, graphite (Yum Yum!) and tobacco notes. It also has a nice dry berry and sour cherry compote element. Quite tasty. I think this is still evolving but it does taste good now. Decant if drinking now or give it a year or two. It will drink well for 3 or more years.
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(14.1%) A rare, varietal bottling of this typically blended Bordeaux grape. Nice, dense, dark fruit backed by pencil lead and acidity before a spiced, toasted, mellow finish. Dig this one! The excellent structure here makes me think this one may be built for the long term. A great experience now and wonder what it might be like in 10 years or so…
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I don't drink many petit verdot's, but this one is excellent. inky in color, pencil lead, minerals, big jammy plum, tar, and oak give this a great well rounded flavors on the palate.
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Popped and poured, and was greeted with a mouthful of pencil lead. Vacuumed it back up and sampled over the next few nights. By the fifth night it had settled into a bold but drinkable wine, full of black cherry flavor. Still a bit of a one-dimensional tannin-bomb, mind you. Reinforces my view that Petit Verdot is best used as a blending grape with varietals like Cab/Merlot, rather than as a solo varietal.
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not as floral as a prior pure PV i had tried, good red fruits, medium bodyweight until the finish, which feels much heavier - did improve with air as the night went on. not sure if age will help this one or hurt it.
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3/25/2021 - budh wrote: 90 Points
Very nice. Round, full-bodied, nicely balanced. Glad I held this for a while
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10/9/2018 - Louisiana George wrote: 88 Points
Oak has diminished, drastically, but not sure this is improving with age. Still no floral notes on nose; fruit forward, with lots of black fruits, but very heavy mouthfeel and somewhat 1 dimensional
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11/6/2017 - Louisiana George wrote: 89 Points
Similar notes to 2017: no hints of fading flavors or color, oak still a bit more than I like; wait another 2-3 years before trying again, in hopes oak will continue to fade
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2/1/2016 - tahaus Likes this wine: 89 Points
Big wine! Chewy and dense still, really good structure and black ripe fruits that have soften a little with age. Powerful finish, yet doesn't linger as long as I thought it would. Great petit verdot that is in its prime now.
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7/6/2015 - Louisiana George wrote: 87 Points
Walters wine tasting - not as floral as I would have hoped on the nose, very heavy mouthfeel with loads of black fruit
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1/18/2014 - DarinC Likes this wine: 90 Points
Interesting, well-made single varietal bottle. Killer value at around $18. Black fruit, floral and herb notes--similar to a cab franc.
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12/9/2013 - Rose Garden Likes this wine: 89 Points
Good Big and fruity
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11/12/2013 - Rick.Bennett Likes this wine: 89 Points
Interesting example of aged CA Petit Verdot; floral on the nose to the point of being in a flower garden; strong and smooth finish. Tanins still alive and kicking.
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9/30/2013 - budh wrote: 87 Points
This wine evolves over time. Initially I was surprised by tannin level being lower than expected, and acidity higher. But the tannins build over time, to a nice high level. The dark fruit, molasses, tobacco nose and palate are also accompanied by an unripe, green vegetal note that detracts from it. I was drinking this alongside an 07 Cab Franc (Wm Harrison), and I definitely preferred the Cab Franc. Not bad, but not memorable. This was better the second and third days - the vegetal notes were gone and it was smoother.
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4/23/2013 - Motz wrote: 91 Points
A consistent and stalwart Petit Verdot bottling. Great character and grip.
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2/7/2013 - Motz wrote: 91 Points
This is just a bit young and the oak is not very integrated. That being said, with air or by the second day, most of the oak blows off revealing a very nice wine. It's juicy but dry. The mouthfeel is good. The strength of the wine lies in the solid back-palate and appreciable finish.
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1/20/2013 - stevenjstein Likes this wine: 89 Points
This bottle was much better than the previous one. It had the good dark fruit and structure right from the beginning.
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1/11/2013 - stevenjstein wrote: 87 Points
Big sort of cranberry red fruit, with a bit of funk, at first. That blew off after a while, revealing some darker fruit and tannins. What I've liked in the few Petit Verdots I've had in the past was their intense dark fruit nd powerful tannin structure, so this one was a bit of a disappointment.
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12/21/2012 - DarinC wrote: 91 Points
Inky Black fruit, leather, earth, herbs. Nice balance with decent length. Didn't change much over the several hours it was opened. This is a great bottle if you want to try this varietal on its own and well worth the money at $16-20.
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12/12/2012 - Motz wrote: 91 Points
This was enjoyable the first night, but really came into its own on the second. I was surprised to learn that this is a sufficiently serious offering to require time to open. Once it did, it showed rich inkiness, saddle leather, graphite (Yum Yum!) and tobacco notes. It also has a nice dry berry and sour cherry compote element. Quite tasty. I think this is still evolving but it does taste good now. Decant if drinking now or give it a year or two. It will drink well for 3 or more years.
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11/25/2012 - Jason Rzutkiewicz wrote:
(14.1%) A rare, varietal bottling of this typically blended Bordeaux grape. Nice, dense, dark fruit backed by pencil lead and acidity before a spiced, toasted, mellow finish. Dig this one! The excellent structure here makes me think this one may be built for the long term. A great experience now and wonder what it might be like in 10 years or so…
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11/2/2012 - jpinsb wrote: 88 Points
Pop and pour, dark, interesting wine, not in the usual repertoire of varietals.
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10/23/2012 - davidbradford wrote: 91 Points
The '08 was exceptionally balanced. Great fruit,acidity and soft leather.
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10/21/2012 - tahaus wrote: 91 Points
I don't drink many petit verdot's, but this one is excellent. inky in color, pencil lead, minerals, big jammy plum, tar, and oak give this a great well rounded flavors on the palate.
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10/12/2012 - jhieb wrote: 88 Points
Tons of oak, but also tons of structure. This should be nice in a couple of years.
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10/8/2012 - urban_dk wrote: 85 Points
Popped and poured, and was greeted with a mouthful of pencil lead. Vacuumed it back up and sampled over the next few nights. By the fifth night it had settled into a bold but drinkable wine, full of black cherry flavor. Still a bit of a one-dimensional tannin-bomb, mind you. Reinforces my view that Petit Verdot is best used as a blending grape with varietals like Cab/Merlot, rather than as a solo varietal.
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9/19/2012 - Louisiana George wrote: 85 Points
not as floral as a prior pure PV i had tried, good red fruits, medium bodyweight until the finish, which feels much heavier - did improve with air as the night went on. not sure if age will help this one or hurt it.
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