Petit Verdot is getting ever more attention as a stand-alone star for making varietal wines — rather than just a minor blending component to beef up color and structure, as has long been the case in Bordeaux. Superb renditions are now being turned out from locations as different as central Spain and Virginia, and here’s an example that Lodi can likewise contribute world class examples. As expected, this shows phenomenal pigment density (it is simply opaque, not just deeply colored), and the aromas and flavors and finish all follow suit in formidable form. Blackberry and black currant notes lead the way, along with hints of graphite and iron — wow. The acidity is excellent, keeping this on an even keel and lending freshness through the very long finish. If you spill this on yourself, don’t even bother trying to launder your shirt, that would be an exercise in futility.
A Double Gold Award winner at the 2020 Toast of the Coast International Wine Competition.
