The more I taste Petit Verdot on it’s own, the
more I am convinced it is one if not, THE Bordeaux red variety best suited to
South African growing conditions and three producers have consistently
impresses me with their offerings, The Mentors by KWV is ahead of the pack, simply
world class, followed by this particular vintage of Pella, from a 7 years old single
vineyard offering with a low cropping of
3.5 tons per hectare, hardly commercial, even their previous vintage was equally
fine, but current release 2012 is substantially more refined, savory and focus with
brighter purity of fruit and less extraction and better integration of oak,
considering it’s 18 months sojourn and last but not least Nabygelegen makes a
rather chunky Petit Verdot when it’s young which really need about 4 years to
blossom and turn out into a red wine with lots of character.
Seek it out this winter, but those patient enough
will be rewarded with many years of drinking pleasure ahead.
Alcohol: high | 14 %abv
Origin: Stellenbosch
Notes: dark plums | blueberries| cassis | rosemary | spicy
Ideal drinking occasions: winter time
Serve with: oxtail stew
Drink: now until 2024+
