Washington wine lovers should seek out big Petit Verdot

Red Mountain is home to several red wine grape varieties, including Petit Verdot. (Photo by Richard Duval Images)

Of the six official red grapes of Bordeaux, the one that we not often see standing on its is the bold and burly Petit Verdot.

Wine lovers, particularly those in Washington state, are delighted to see a growing interest in this rare variety. Little more than 1,000 tons are harvested each fall in Washington, and much of that ends up in Bordeaux and Meritage-style blends. Fortunately, a few winemakers hold back enough to bottle separately, often resulting in spectacular wines.

If you’re a lover of big, bold reds, such as broad-shouldered Cabs or the bigger Petite Sirah or the rarer Tannat, they will find a wine to love with Petit Verdot. In addition to their signature big structure, Petit Verdot often will exhibit notes of ripe plum, blackberry, violet and dark chocolate and cocoa powder. It pairs well with braised or barbecued meats and spicy Latin American dishes.

Logic would dictate that balanced examples should age well, becoming more interesting after a few years tucked away in a dark, cool cellar.

Here are several examples of Petit Verdot grown in Washington state we’ve tasted recently. Ask for them at your favorite wine merchant or contact the wineries directly.

Cloudlift Cellars 2015 Stratus Petit Verdot, Yakima Valley, $32

Rising SoDo vintner Tom Stangeland makes a bold move in this Petit Verdot that includes a nice burst of Merlot (10%). The aromas are brooding and dark, showing off deep blackberry, date, raisin and smoky plum. The palate delivers on the expectations of tannin at the onset, leading to a strong backbone to the lush dark fruit. Stangeland’s program received four gold medals at the sixth annual Cascadia International Wine Competition, with this work receiving a unanimous double gold medal.

Rating: Outstanding!

Production: 105 cases

Alcohol: 14.4%

Winery website

Barrister Winery 2014 Petit Verdot, Columbia Valley, $41

Armstrong Family Winery 2014 Dineen Vineyard Petit Verdot, Yakima Valley, $38

Northwest Cellars 2013 Scooteney Flats Vineyard Petit Verdot, Red Mountain, $48

Totem Lake vintner Robert Delf has been producing standalone bottlings of this lesser-known Bordeaux for nearly a decade, shifting his focus recently from the Horse Heaven Hills to Red Mountain. This is a slightly lighter style of Petit Verdot, bringing aromas and flavors of Chukar Cherry, blackberry, Dr Pepper and mulling spices with restrained tannins and a finish of Montmorency cherry and sweet dill. Suggested pairings feature dense dishes such as pork with a plum or cherry sauce, Beef Bourguignon, Italian dishes with rich tomato sauces or dark chocolate.

Rating: Recommended

Production: 70 cases

Alcohol: 14.1%

Winery website

Grantwood Winery 2016 Petit Verdot, Walla Walla Valley, $22

More winemakers in Washington state are helping to bring this lesser-known red Bordeaux variety out of the shadows, and Joe Grant of tiny Grantwood Winery in Walla Walla is among those. This wine represents two barrels of Petit Verdot from stately Les Collines Vineyard in the foothills of the Blue Mountains, and it offers big shoulders with dense notes of plum, black cherry and blackberry, backed by a dusting of cocoa powder. This spring, Barrister Winery in Spokane used a Petit Verdot from historic Dionysus Vineyard along the Columbia River to win the title of best red wine at the Indy International Wine Competition on the campus of Purdue University. And earlier this month, Grantwood took best of show at the 2018 Walla Walla Valley Wine Competition with his Petit Verdot, a competition staged at Walla Walla Community College that serves as a scholarship fundraiser for College Cellars students.

Rating: Outstanding!

Production: 45 cases

Alcohol: 14.6%

Winery website

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One Comment

1. 

   Cbods

   August 1, 2018 at 6:49 pm

   Love Petit Verdot on it’s own – Road 13 up here in Canada makes a stellar version also.

   Reply