Petit Verdot

This a blend of 60% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Petite Verdot.  A Napa version of a Right Bank Bordeaux wine but this is really a pretty big wine.  Purple in color.  The nose has black cherries, plums, slight spice and char.  On the palate, the black cherries continue.  There are firm tannins.  Low acidity.  A bit of underlying forest floor comes out with air.  Medium finish.  This makes a nice drink on its own.  It should continue to evolve and become more food friendly with age.  Another five years to peak and then another seven to ten after that.  This was around $80 on releas

Bevan Cellars makes some of the best wines anywhere but his Napa Cabs are very expensive.  So is this one, but it is half the price of the others and that makes this a great value in the rarefied air of top Napa Cabs.  On release, this was $95.  This is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Petit Verdot and 10% Cabernet Franc.

My first time trying this wine.  It is made by Philippe Melka.  93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot.   2010 was a hit or miss vintage but this is quite good.  Inky purple in color.  The nose has cassis, blueberries, and coffee.  On the palate, this is drinking well.  Plenty of black raspberries and blueberries.  Lush texture.  Not a lot of acidity but enough to work with food.  Good finish.  This is not a fruit bomb and its not intense, more middle of the road in style.  Very enjoyable.  It should probably be consumed in the next five to seven years though it undoubtedly will still be d

 This is a blend of 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc.  This is a very nice value in Napa Cabernet.  They also make a Reserve which is a bit better but a lot more expensive.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose shows cassis, a bit of coffee, slight anise, and spice.  On the palate, this is soft but still has enough structure to hang the fruit on.  Good balance.  Cassis with an earthy/tobacco underneath.  Good finish.  This will work well with a wide variety of foods.  It may improve still but certainly should last another seven to ten years.   

This is a Bordeaux blend Super Tuscan wine from one of the top producers in Tuscany.  It is one of their less expensive offerings and is always an outstanding wine.  This wine is surprisingly open and drinking well already considering that 2015 is an outstanding vintage in Tuscany.  Purple in color with ruby swirls.  The nose has cassis, black cherries, slight tobacco and spice.  On the palate, this has a nice juiciness to it.  Black cherry fruit dominates at this point with some underlying tobacco/earth.  Light tannins.  Nice finish.  This might still improve but either way should be good

This winery has recently been sold to new owners.  They are one of the largest producers in South Africa having opened in 1989.  Mostly known for their Chenin Blanc, this red is affordable and a great value too.  It is a blend of 32% Cabernet Franc, 31% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, 9% Petit Verdot, and 7% Malbec.  The new label is plain and classy, but I always liked the old one with a picture of a dog.  A note for the 2013 is on this site and features that label.  The wine itself is drinking very well.  Deep ruby in color.  The nose has cassis, plums, baking spice and slight tobacco not

Consumed after a tasting of First Growths from 2008, this more than held its own.  It is 51% Merlot, 41% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Petit Verdot.  The definition of a sexy wine.  Purple/ruby in color.  The nose has cassis, floral notes and slight plums.  On the palate, this has a wonderful texture.  Juicy yet velvety.  Lots of cassis and some raspberries over a slight spice/earth.  Long finish.  There are medium to firm tannins but they are more silky in style.  A delicious wine right now, it should improve for a decade and last another couple (at least) after that.  

This is 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.  It is a classic Margaux with a perfumed nose and plenty to seduce the palate.  Deep ruby in color.  The nose has cassis, spice and floral/perfumed quality to it.  On the palate, this has medium tannins.  Lots of cassis fruit with minerality and slight cigar box.  Medium tannins that get a bit stronger in the glass.  It is very young but still accessible.  It is an outstanding wine that will require time to develop.  It has another couple decades for us to see how good it gets.  The group I tasted it w

Purple in color.  The nose has nice cassis, dust, cherries and slight green bell pepper.  On the palate, this has medium tannins.  Good cassis fruit over a dry earthiness.  Light tannins.  The bell pepper is only on the nose.  This has some complexity at this point.  Good finish.  Not uber ripe but certainly not under ripe either.  Drinking well, it may possibly still improve with further cellaring.  Will work better with bigger or spicy foods but is ok on its own.  64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc, 7% Merlot, 5% Malbec, 4% Petit Verdot

This is a blend of 85% Malbec, 10% Tannat, and 5% Petite Verdot.  Grown from vineyards at 5,900 feet above sea level.  Purple in color, ruby at the rim.  The nose has plums, spice and black raspberries.  Also a touch of black pepper.  On the palate, this has silky tannins.  Plum and black cherry fruit.  Not noticeable oak.  This wine is about accessibility and easy enjoyment.  Good fruit.  It goes down easily.  Should be drunk within the next few years.  It will work with medium and heartier foods well.  This retails for around $15 which is a great value.