WTN: Furmint, Santa Duc Cotes du Rhone, Bordeaux Superieure

I left 1/2 the bottle of open Verus Slovenian Furmint at Wine Styles Saturday night....with trepidation we pulled it out last night. And you know...it was actually BETTER after three days open in the cooler! The aggressive New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc/cat pee character mellowed out, and we got a very nice wine with notes of peach, citrus, plenty of tangy acidity, and a smoothness/creaminess. Fantastic!
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2005 Domain Santa Duc "Les Quatres Terres" Cotes du Rhone. This Rhone had a great nose of garrigue and spice and leather and strawberry. The palate was a little flat, but still showed the same character...very smooth, and the alcohol was not noticeable. Quite pleasant Tuesday night sipper!

2004 Chateau Bollaire Bordeaux Superieure. Kevin was testing this wine, as he is losing access to his standard cheapie Bordeaux. We agreed this was better. Very dark nose of classic mellow Bordeaux character. Earth, a little herb, black fruit, a little soy (but not as much as the Du Tertre Saturday night). Just an elegant and rich wine that was quite impressive., Strange blend, though: 35% Petit Verdot! I am developing a liking for varietal Petit Verdot bottlings...or PV heavy blended wines.

Brian, do you think a PV Open Mike is in order?! I would be keen to try a couple but need support!

Brian, do you think a PV Open Mike is in order?! I would be keen to try a couple but need support!

Interesting idea, Bob, but I don't know where to get a wine with a high proportion of this grape.

Tim, you might have to look at Austalia? I know DeVines here has a couple but worry about fruit bombs.
How about blends from S America? Might be some there eh.

Tim, you might have to look at Austalia? I know DeVines here has a couple but worry about fruit bombs.
How about blends from S America? Might be some there eh.

A few years ago I saw some mono-varietal bottles from Château Poujeaux in a wine shop; including PV, but stupidly did not buy any. It was a once-off, I think, and I have never seen any since.

There are a few PV-dominated blends and mono-varietals, but the ones I am familiar with might be hard to find for non-California residents. Off the top of my head:

Heitz makes an outstanding varietal PV.
Olabisi makes one from Suisun Valley grapes.
St. Francis, I believe, makes a "reverse Bordeaux" blend which is heavy on PV (similar to the Bolaire)
Hess actually made one in 2004. Maybe I will pull it out of the closet and try it!

There was also an Emeryville based winery that made a pretty outstanding PV.

Many of these were winery only sales, but I am still intrigued enough to do an Open Mike. I promise to try a couple PVs this weekend and post them!