2018 Bismark Petit Verdot 750ml

 

Vineyard: Our Bismark Mountain Ranch is in the Moon Mountain District Sonoma County appellation, high above the city of Sonoma and San Pablo Bay. Here on the southwestern flanks of the Mayacamas Mountains we grow just over an acre of Petit Verdot. We began planting in 1991 and continue to fine tune our mix of cultivars to this day. This is steep ground; shared with Creosote bush, grey pines, coyotes, and mountain lions. Topographically it is similar to the Douro. Windy, sun drenched yet moderate in temperature, Bismark grudgingly produces grapes with an intense, deeply concentrated flavor. Bismark’s unique terroir is both fierce and alluring. 

Vintage 2018: Adequate rainfall, no frost pressure and mild spring temperatures were a great start to the vintage. This continued with a temperate summer and early fall. October 1st rain provided some drama, but it dried quickly enough on the wind-swept mountain. Warm sunny days followed the rain, continuing the long even ripening, with harvest days continuing into November. The grapes for the Bismark Mountain Petit Verdot were harvested on October 12, 2018 at an average Brix of 26.6o, TA of 0.57 g/100 mL and pH 3.82.

Winemaking: Our two-and-a-half tons of Bismark Petit Verdot were co-fermented with a half-ton of Bismark block 3 Cab. The grapes arrived warm, hastening color extraction and shortening the cold soak to four days. The wine was pressed quite sweet and finished fermentation in tank, before a mid-November barreling. Ageing was sur lie in 40% new French Oak barrels coopered by Remond.

Tasting Notes: While pouring the deep plum Petit Verdot, it exudes classic notes of graphite, blueberry, vanilla and dark chocolate. Defiantly elegant by mouth this supple beauty has concentration and density without the caricature tannins. Its long finish offers lingering notes of cola, leather, and black elderberry.

Variety

78% Petit Verdot, 2% Malbec, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon

Vineyard Location

Bismark Mountain blocks 16 Petit Verdot, 3 Cab Sauv, 26 Malbec, Moon Mountain District Sonoma County

Age of Vines

26

 

Alcohol 14.8%

pH 4.11

Titratable Acidity (TA)

0.48 g/100 mL

Residual Sugar

0.2%

Avg. Brix at Harvest 26.6o

 

Length/Type of Aging

26 months in barrel.

40% New French Oak coopered by Remond

 

Bottling Date

February 23, 2021

Number of Cases

104

Vegan