2021 Petit Verdot, Miljenko’s Selection
Winery Exclusive Wine
We grow this varietal in Yountville to display its abundant color, structure and flavor, then aged 20 months in French oak.
Retail: $ 75.00
The Wine
We maintain a cool fermentation temperature to preserve rich fruit flavors and rely on open-top tanks to integrate oxygen with Petit Verdot’s hardy tannins. We aged the wine for almost two years in French oak barrels to allow the wood’s harmonizing toast flavors to enhance the fruit.
In the glass, this stunning Petit Verdot is a sight to behold with its deep ruby-red color and attractive purple hue around the edges. Undertones of blackberry, blueberry, cedar, nutmeg and pine tip envelop the tongue, creating a blend of robust flavors. A mouthful of tannins gives life to deep density, followed by a balanced, silky feel at the core. Acidity, on the mid-palate, plays nicely into the background, carrying aromatic complexity. The conclusion is a long and flavorful finish. Match this wine's sturdiness with grilled rib eye steak, wild game or aged cheeses.
Vintage
The growing season was free from severe weather issues, and, despite the drought, our yield increased five percent from 2020. We had no significant rainfall past the month of February, but mild spring and summer conditions provided an ideal environment for grapes to flower, bloom, and set in early spring. Notably cooler temperatures in August and September allowed us to pick each block at its ideal point of ripeness, leading to outstanding quality and great concentration in the fruit. The grape harvest drew to a close at the end of October, with the last grapes arriving just before an atmospheric river brought much-needed rain to Northern California.
Vineyard
The small block of Petit Verdot in our Yountville vineyard is enhanced by the few additional rows of this varietal in our Rutherford vineyard, just a few miles away. Both vineyards enjoy consistent sunshine and a well-drained mixture of gravel, clay and loam that produce complex, ripe flavors. We farm naturally, without artificial pesticides or herbicides, and the grapes are certified organic.
Winemaker's Notes
Alcohol
14.3%
Fermentation
indigenous yeast
Harvest date
October 11th-15th, 2021
Sugar
23.8 Brix average
Bottling date
August 2023
Release Date
April 2025
Total acid
5.6 g/L
pH
3.83
Blend
78% Petit Verdot, 17% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot