2021 Petit Verdot Reserve
NEW RELEASE
In Stock
Petit Verdot ("peh-tee vur-doe") hails from the southwestern region of Bordeaux, France. While it is most often used as a blending grape, it’s one that many of our fans will recognize, as it plays a pivotal role in our renowned Claret. Due to its late ripening cycle, it isn’t seen as a single-varietal wine often, but it has and has made it back to our Reserve portfolio after over a decade!
Our 2021 Petit Verdot is a medium-bodied wine with aromas of blackberries, plums, and cherries. Layered notes of baking spices, pepper, mocha, and toasty oak add complexity. The wine’s finely integrated tannins and bright acidity enhance the rich black fruit flavors, culminating in a lingering finish with a touch of sweet oak.
Wine Specs
Vintage
2021
Varietal
Petit Verdot Reserve
Appellation
Monterey
Vineyard
Hames Valley
Harvest Date
Oct 6, 2021
pH
3.75
Aging
71% Hungarian oak, 29% French oak, 28% new oak, 24 months
Bottling Date
Jun 20, 2024
Alcohol %
13.9
Wine Profile
Vineyard
The fruit for our Reserve Petit Verdot was grown on our sustainably certified Hames Valley Vineyard in the Hames Valley AVA. Located at the southern end of the Salinas Valley, this lesser-known appellation is flanked by the Santa Lucia Range to the west and the rugged Gabilans to the east. Sheltered from the afternoon winds, Hames Valley possesses some of the largest diurnal temperature swings in Monterey County, with a 50° day-to-night fluctuation quite common. The combination of warm days, crisp nights and an incredibly long growing season make this an ideal locale for big, tannic reds.
Varietal Composition
100% Petit Verdot
Winemaking
Upon arrival at the winery, the grapes were destemmed, crushed, and fermented in small, open-top fermenters. During fermentation, we gently punched down the cap several times per day and held the juice on the skins for two to three weeks before pressing. We then gently pressed the wine, settled the heavy solids, and racked it clean to barrels for secondary fermentation and storage. The wine was aged for 24 months in 71% Hungarian oak with a blend of 29% French to harmonize the texture of the wine and provide balance.
Cases Produced
148