![]() ![]() Whether it's Pinot Noir or Chardonnay, this fantastic appellation has much to offer average vino-sapiens looking for a cut above the ordinary, factory Chardonnay. It's hard to recall the last time I had a glass of wine I didn't appreciate in some way or another from this site. Love, love the fruit produced from this vineyard site located in the gorgeous Santa Maria Valley. Now that I've flushed all the bilge water from the bowels of the castle, it's time to review the wine in the spotlight. ![]() It's the very reason folks are still reading this blog, although I hear wine blogs are now out of fashion again. Instead of dismissing the wine because I may not like where it came from, I'll give it a go, examine it solely on its merits and then let the chips fall where they may. I love it, the views from the top are as amazing as the expansive great hall inside. īut if I had the coin to build a castle like this one, I definitely would. Besides that, I've heard from those same folks all the wine made there, is over the top or just missing the mark completely. The 'they' say it just smacks of the imperialism and at the same time flaunts capitalism oh-my. I know, I know, I've heard all the moaning and groaning among the so-called wine intelligentsia who love to mock and scorn the audaciousness of a modern day castle built in wine country of all places. I'm fond of saying in regards to well put together wines, "where there's passion, there's fire" the effort that went into this wine is a direct reflection the passion and energy of the vineyards, the folks who worked the field during the harvest, and the winemaker who put the final touches on the harvested grapes. ![]() ![]() I'm pretty sure some serious reflection was done in preparing this wine, it's far better than the typical 'California' garden variety style of Chardonnay, and for that reason alone, it's my wine of the week. But for the most part, I'm willing to give it go, especially when it arrives on my doorstep, albeit unannounced and unsolicited, but nonetheless a very welcomed #sample. I like to keep an open mind when it comes to wine, for the most part I do have my prejudices and would be lying if I said differently. It's hard to move forward if you simply dismiss, with the wave of the hand, all California Chardonnay as a monolithic mess of over-extraction, oak soak, and malo. Learning to move forward, is an essential concept in learning about and appreciating wine. When you join our wine community as a Paid Member, you’ll get access to all of my Petit Verdot wine reviews, which are updated weekly.“I'm reflective only in the sense that I learn to move forward. Although it is rare to see this varietal on its own, if you should come across it, let it age for minimum 5 years and pair it with a pork belly or a juicy strip loin. Petit Verdot has leather and violet aromas, but can also give off a banana scent when young. Petit Verdot is a red grape also known as Bouton, Carmelin, Heran, Lambrusquet Noir and Petit Verdau, depending on where its grown.ĥ. Although France is the original home of the Bordeaux blend (also called a Meritage), many New World countries have adopted the mix of grapes as well including the US, Canada, Chile, South Africa, New Zealand, Argentina and Australia. The only place Petit Verdot has been known to thrive is in Portugal’s Alentejo region due to the warm climatic conditions.Ĥ. It has an unusual two grape clusters per shoot, but can be extremely unreliable.ģ. Petit Verdot can be a problem vine, as it ripens late in the season, if at all. The exception is Chateau Palmer, in which it is 6% of the blend due to the vineyard’s microclimate.Ģ. It usually only makes up 1-3% of the Bordeaux blend, which also includes the grapes Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec. You’ll find my Top 10 Petit Verdot reviews and ratings here.ġ. Petit Verdot is most famously associated with the Bordeaux blend, and is added to the blend to increase the tannin, colour and flavour. ![]()
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