2016 Mercer Petit Verdot Small Lot Horse Heaven Hills, Washington, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2016
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$32.00USD

This is interesting.  My understanding is that is mostly a tasting room only wine although there is some limited distribution.  Its unclear if this is 100% Petit Verdot, a grape mostly utilized for blending purposes.  Inky purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose is nice with black raspberries, vanilla and slight baking spices.  Also a bit of a "Bourbon" note on the end.  Full bodied.  On the palate, lots of boysenberry fruit with firm tannins.  Some slight spice and vanilla.  Moderate finish.  One of those wines that is perhaps more interesting than great but worth checking out and en

2012 Random Wine Company Petit Verdot, USA, Washington, Columbia Valley, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2012
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-

It's not often that Petite Verdot is bottled on its own.  More typically, it is found in small amounts in Bordeaux blends, so this was an interesting treat.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  On the nose there are plums, slight blueberries, slight lilac, spice and char.  Full bodied.  On the palate, the plums come thru strong with slight blueberries and underlying gravel.  It is tasty but not complex.  More mono-dimensional.  Still, it is quite enjoyable to drink and unique.  Light tannins.  Moderate finish.  This probably will go another five to eight years.  A nice match with grilled f

2017 Castello Romitorio Romitoro Toscana IGT, Italy, Tuscany, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$20.00USD

This IGT wine from Tuscany is a blend of  50% Petit Verdot and 50% Syrah.  It really is an excellent value.  Deep ruby in color.  The nose has black cherries, plums, slight cedar and a bit of herbs.  On the palate, this is medium bodied with a lovely energy.  Lighter in style considering the varietals.  Nice black cherry fruit with an underlying earthy/gravel quality.  Nice backbone of acidity.  Long finish.  This drinks well on its own and will work well with pizza or burgers.  This should continue to drink well for the next five to seven years.  

2017 Psagot Edom, Israel, Judean Hills, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
91
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$33.00USD

This a red blend of 45% Merlot, 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 13% Petit Verdot grown at high elevation in the Edom Mountains.  It is Kosher.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  A very nice Bordeaux-like nose.  Cassis, black cherries, cherries, slight cigar box, gravel and slighter bell pepper.  On the palate, this is medium bodied with lighter but present tannins.  Moderate acidity.  A nice depth and complexity.  Notes of cassis and cherry fruit over gravel.  Ripe but not overtly.  Drinks easily right now.  I don't think this will get better but should drink well for five to seven more years.

2014 Von Strasser Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Vineyard Diamond Mountain, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A

A really nice showing for this wine and above my high expectations.  It is a blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Malbec, and 5% Petit Verdot.  Purple in color, opaque and bright.  The nose has cassis, cedar, plums, graphite and char.  On the palate, this is full bodied with medium tannins.  Lots of cassis fruit intertwined with char and oak.  Good length on the finish.  This is still on the young side of mature but drinks like a classic Napa Cabernet.  That is great fruit with some oak and plenty of depth.  This should continue to mature for another seve to ten years and be good for ten to

2013 Behrens Family Winery The Collector, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2013
Score: 
92
Grade: 
A-
Current Price: 
$60.00USD

My first time trying this wine.  Very nice.  A blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Petite Sirah and the rest Merlot and Petit Verdot.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose has black cherries, black raspberries, char and spice.  On the palate, the black cherries dominate.  There is some green bell pepper (in a good way) that is very traditional.  Some underlying roasted meats.  This already has a tight complexity that unwinds in the glass.  Nice finish.  This probably needs another five to seven to peak and should be good for ten to twelve more after that.  it is food friendly and wi

2014 Raymond Vineyard & Cellar Merlot Reserve Selection, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2014
Score: 
88
Grade: 
B+
Current Price: 
$23.00USD

This is a nice value in inexpensive Merlot.  It is a blend of 88% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Malbec.  Medium ruby in color.  The nose has plums, cherries and spice.  On the palate, this is light to medium bodied.  Light cherry fruit.  Easy drinking.  Nice finish.  This is made for immediate drinking.  It drinks well on its own and would be great with burgers or grilled chicken.  Drink over the next couple of years.  

2017 Flora Springs Trilogy, USA, California, Napa, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2017
Score: 
93
Grade: 
A
Current Price: 
$85.00USD

This is always one of the great wines out of Napa.  The blend is 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Petit Verdot, and 3% Malbec. Inky purple in color.  The nose is very nice with cassis and coffee.  On the palate, this has medium tannins.  Black cherries, cassis and some char.  It is delicious.  This was consumed over three nights and was best on night three though excellent on all three.  This still needs a few more years until peak and then should be good for another ten to twelve at least.  The score certainly has a point or two more of upside.  There is a depth and complexity to it that really

2005 Château La Clare, France, Bordeaux, Haut Medoc, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2005
Score: 
90
Grade: 
A-

Labelled as Cru Bourgeois, half of this wine's production is typically kosher although this bottle was not so marked.   A blend of 45% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot.  Purple in color.  The nose has plenty of barnyard with some cherries.  On the palate, this is soft, but has a nice complexity.  Plums and cherries.  Light tannins.  Moderate finish.  This probably won't get better but should maintain this level for another ten to twelve years.  It will go well with stews and casseroles.  

2003 Château Montrose, France, Bordeaux, St. Estephe, Wine Review

Vintage: 
2003
Score: 
98
Grade: 
A+
Current Price: 
$210.00USD

Although 2003 was not a classic vintage in Bordeaux (it was extremely hot), this is a classic styled Montrose at age 17.  2003 Château Montrose is a blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot.   Purple in color.  Opaque and bright.  The nose has some barnyard along with cassis, and a slight char.  What a great texture.  Luxurious, almost gelatinous.  Lots of cassis fruit over some char and earth.  Complex layers.  Long finish.  This seems to be at or close to peak but should be here for at least a decade.  Drinking very well on its own and will work w

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