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Creekside Vineyard, Lodi
TASTING NOTES:
The 2023 Petit Verdot has a deep dark purple/black color some might describe it as inky. The hues are youthful without any signs of carmine. Aromas of pomegranate, cassis, and smoky blackberry are joined by notes of violets and a floral perfume. Just over a year of aging in small barrels has generated a bouquet of buttered toast and dark chocolate. On the palate savory flavors of mulberry, black cherry and cassis are delivered by a substantial wine with significant tannins and a full-bodied texture. Petit Verdot can be a highly extracted wine with monstrous tannins. We apply the same production techniques we use to tame Petite Sirah to the vinification of Petit Verdot and the resulting tannins are mature and well-integrated providing viscosity and body without undue astringency. The finish is long and flavors of toasted oak with a hint of mineral and chalk dust linger well after the wine is gone.
TECHNICAL NOTES:
Petit Verdot along with Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Malbec is one of the five classic red grape varieties grown in Bordeaux. Although Petit Verdot is highly valued for its color, structure, and lovely violet scent the French don’t grow very much of it. The sub-appellations of Pomerol and St-Emilion grow virtually no Petit Verdot. Chateau Margaux and Chateau Angelus are among the leaders in Petit Verdot cultivation and neither has more than ten percent of its vineyards planted to this variety.
Given this, one might think there must be some disqualifying characteristic to Petit Verdot. There is. At least in Bordeaux there is. Petit Verdot is the last of the Bordeaux varieties to ripen, so even though French winemakers think highly of this grape the climate in Bordeaux isn’t warm enough for Petit Verdot to thrive. There just isn’t enough sunshine to ripen this variety. In years immediately after World War Two Petit Verdot fully ripened in only one out of five vintages. In the 1980s, with improved growing techniques, every third year Petit Verdot would ripen. Perhaps with climate change Bordeaux might raise its batting average on this variety to .500. Either way Petit Verdot is just not that popular.
In California getting Petit Verdot to ripen is not an issue, especially not at the Creekside Vineyard in the Jahant District of Lodi; the source of the grapes we use to produce this wine. Petit Verdot thrives in the California sunshine where it produces deeply pigmented grapes and wines with mature, integrated tannins along with aromas of cassis and blackberry. Historically used as blending variety, we chose to showcase Petit Verdot as a single varietal.
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