Wine of the Day: Rosemont of Virginia 2023 Petit Verdot
Intensely flavorful–as you'd expect–this petit verdot also offers uncommon balance and polish
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Color. Tannin. Acidity. These are the things that petit verdot brings to Bordeaux-style blends in any region. They are also the things that make many varietal bottlings monolithic and somewhat inelegant. I actually enjoy some of those wines anyway for their rusticity and charm.
Rosemont of Virginia 2023 Petit Verdot ($35*) isn’t release yet, but it’s already a bit more polished (in a good way) than most examples.
The nose opens with a bunch of nutty oak before intense aromas of black and blue fruit, bay leaf, dried sage, vanilla and violets unfurl. Open on the counter for a few days, the intensity of the fruit really blossoms in the form of blueberry compote and black plums.
Big and bold, this wine brings ripe, concentrated dark fruit flavors—blueberry, plum, blackberry, and black cherry—with vanilla, black pepper, sage, and a light background note of toasty oak. Ripe tannins and a gentle bit of freshness balance out and elevate all of that fruit intensity.
The score for this wine kept going up as I tasted it over the course of four days, indicating that it should develop beautifully in the bottle.
Rosemont of Virginia 2023 Petit Verdot
Region: Virginia
ABV: 14.7%
TA: 5.6 g/L
pH: 3.76
Grapes: 100% petit verdot
Production: 146 cases
Rating: 90 pts
Price: $35* (Pre-Release)
*Sample provided by winery