2005 York Creek Spring Mountain District Petit Verdot (Previously $30)

I have been in the wine retail business for well over forty-five years, and I cannot remember ever tasting a Petit Verdot varietal by any producer, domestic or international, since it is used (sparingly) as a blending wine with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc. It was such a joy for me to try this wonderfully produced, delicious varietal from York Creek, that I am not sure if it is the fact that it is a first for me after all these years, or that I honestly believe that it is the best of the three 2005 York Creek wines that we are now featuring – all three are exceptional wines and incredible values. An opulent nose of mocha, filings, red berry fruit to a cedary, cigar box undertone, this medium-deep ruby in color wine is broad, viscous, round, integrated, developed, totally complex and deep in flavor in the mouth. Well-structured and with excellent acid backbone, this Gem will be one of our near-term house drinking wines for the next several years according to Rusty. Great Value! Don’t miss this puppy! ***** 14.2% ABV *****

Heck yeah, 100% Petit Verdot. We rarely get to taste this varietal all by itself, let alone such a delicious version of it! Full of that mountain fruit concentration and depth, but without the sappy cloyingness that far too often demotes this to a small part of the final blend. Lush and filled with notes of crushed violet and damn earth on the nose, followed by deep blue fruits, and a savory richness. Layers of wild raspberry and plum of linger on the finish.

We couldn’t resist sending out this sort of oddity from York Creek in the 2005 Petit Verdot, it was just too delicious and rare not to be passed on to our customers. From 100% varietal this is a fun and snappy wine which is a bit different than the inky, monolithic Petit Verdot that you can sometimes find on the market today. Milk chocolate shavings, iron, blood and sweet berry cobbler filling mingle on the fresh and open nose. On the palate it picks up heft and density with a darker edge of flavors like pencil lead, wet gravel, black raspberry candy, ink and scrub brush. Fresh acid, in a grape that is known for everything but in Bordeaux blends, dominates the lively finish with pliable tannins and a long mouthwatering nature. Just delicious.

Beautifully concentrated, inky, lush and sexy. This has got to be one of the most layered, expressive and intricate bottles of wine I have had the privilege of trying in some time. Tar, deep and dark fruits, with huge generosity, length and distance...this wine goes for days on the palate. Petit Verdot does not usually make it into a 100% bottling, but York Creek has done it magically, and it has some nice bottle age on it now-but in a few more years this should shine even brighter. If you can enjoy this with something dead and bloody...the richer the better, than that would be ideal. Let this bad boy breathe.

It is very rare to find an all Petit Verdot wine—in fact this may be the only one we are currently carrying. Fortunately it is good, with some inky fruit notes showcase the dark richness of the varietal without becoming cloying. There is grip and length to this wine that carries the ripe black berry notes and makes this a wine worth visiting and revisiting.