2004 Murphy Goode Petit Verdot River Road Alexander Valley California. $15 a glass at Endless Vines.
Deep red color, deep hue, intense fruit aroma with a bit of earth and spice, very smooth fruit tastes, good basis of earth with spice and mint notes, very smooth tannins, excellent balance, medium mouth feel, long finish with fruit, spice and earth notes. I'm not sure whether this is 100% Petit Verdot, but it was a very pleasant wine, one I'll certainly try again. I wonder how many wineries make a wine that is 100% or primarily Petit Verdot. 4*.
Notes: http://www.murphygoodewinery.com/
Winemaker notes: When we planted our Petit Verdot it was intended for blending purposes with our Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot programs; however, upon tasting it, we were so captivated we decided to produce a 100% Petit Verdot wine. Our Petit Verdot vines thrive on a rocky slope on Murphy Ranch and produce a fruit that is extraordinary. Avg. sugar at harvest - 25.5° brix. TA at bottling - 7.35 grams/liter. Alcohol at bottling - 14.5%. Bottling Date - August, 2006
The Wine Libary attributes this note to the winery, but there is nothing but the 100% Petit Verdot on the winery's website: "We planted four acres of Petit Verdot with the intent to use it exclusively for blending purposes with our Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot programs. During our blending trials of Bordeaux varietals, we tasted numerous blends and were captivated by the Petit Verdot and decided to not only use it for blending with the Cabernet and Merlot, but to produce a wine with Petit Verdot as the principal variety. Blended with a percentage of Merlot, this wine displays expressive black aromas that carry through the broad, succulent palate." -Winery
****
On another subject, we wanted to have Chianti with our homemade pizza last night but were disappointed:
2002 Villa Puccini Chianti Superiore Tuscany Italy. 12.5% alcohol. Dead on arrival; fruit, and only fruit, with no acidity or tannins. Cherry Kool Aid. 1*.
2001 Felsina Chianti Classico Reserva "Rancia" Tuscany Italy. Badly corked. 1*.
This was a bottle in the three case selection from Chambers Street put together by Lyle Fass for me. I had looked forward to the wine, based on Lyle's description:
13.5% alcohol. Chambers Street, $34.99. Absolutely my favorite CC out there. Needs age but the ones we have with age are a bit pricey…but these might eclipse the '85, '97 and '99 with some proper bottle age. 2001 is a classic vintage in Tuscany with wonderful acidity, freshness and depth of fruit. The 2001 Rancia can be drunk now but ideally I would open it 5-6 hours in advance and slowly let air in by breaking the neck a tad. This wine will open up into a forest floor, cherry/spice explosion off everything that is right with traditionally made Sangiovese.
Regards, Bob