2013 VDR “Very Dark Red” Red Wine $27
()
Winery Tasting Notes: “Very Dark Red. The name frankly speaks for itself. Petit Verdot is a grape of dark color, stout tannins and concentrated flavors. The small berries of Petite Sirah means a more intense maceration of skin-to-juice ratio and some of the longest tannins of any vinifera. Together they create a dark, concentrated wine that can be enjoyed now but will age well for a decade or more. VDR is full-bodied yet supple, with deep, ripe fruit flavors of black currant and black raspberry perfumed by delicate notes of crushed violet. A firm, chalky tannin structure belies the velvety, luscious mouthfeel. Dense flavors integrate beautifully for a long, layered finish.”
Blend: 56% Petit Verdot / 44% Petite Sirah
Alcohol Level: 14.5%
Cases Produced: 1,200
Winemaker Name: Dave Nagengast
Maturity: Drink Now – 2022
Pairings: Grilled meats, short ribs, wild game, rich stews, savory Italian dishes, rib-eye and smoked cheeses
Staff Review: DREW MOFFAT – This Santa Lucia Highlands blend of Petit Verdot & Petite Sirah is a ‘lil monster BUT not too overly tannic where it will destroy your pallet. I know its cliché, but when the winter months bring the cold temperatures, rain/snow, Christmas trees are lit and fire places are glowing…I find comfort in a mammoth red wine chock-full of puckering deep flavors and a lingering finish. Look no further the 2013 VDR “Very Dark Red!”
We introduced this wine on November 29th during our annual Wine Club Member Holiday Tasting/Purchasing event and ended up being one of the top sellers of the evening. With the overwhelming success of the wine that night, I decided that it should definitely be a wine club selection.
The winery is in its infancy but firmly believes in sustainable farming/winemaking which can be found within each and every bottle of VDR. Located specifically in the Hames Valley…“ Hames Valley is one of the most perfect places on earth to grow top quality Petite Sirah and Petit Verdot. It is situated just north of the San Luis Obispo county line and lies at the foot of the Santa Lucia Range in a Region IV growing climate with just the right amount of sunshine hours to achieve optimal flavor development. The soils of our estate Hames Valley Vineyard are Lockwood shaly loam, with fragments of broken rock that create fracture lines for the vine roots to penetrate deeply. The climate of Hames Valley is uniquely characterized by a very wide diurnal range with a day-to-nighttime temperature variation of up to 50°. The long, warm days are a must for top-notch Petit-Petite, while the dramatic nighttime cooling preserves firm structure and balanced acidity.” (http://www.vdrwines.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/VDR_2013_PSPV_noprice.pdf)
There is no need to complicate this wine…sure it may (or may not) receive some added benefit from a little shelf time. That said, we purchased the rest of the inventory available and my suggestion would be TRY IT NOW to see if you would like to grab a little more for the cellar! Enjoy!
Wine Spectator Points:
Wine Advocate Points:
Alcohol Level: %
Cases Produced:
Winemaker Name: