2021 Petit Verdot
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Tasting notes
This opens with aromas of dark fruit, cedar and a subtle tarry note, lifted by a delicate hint of violets. The palate is fleshy and textured, lined with fine, focused tannins. It’s incisive and precise, showing clear dark-berry character with excellent balance and persistence. Drink now or hold.
Critic scores
Average Score
James Suckling
Luis Gutiérrez, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
The 2021 Petit Verdot was produced with the grapes from a stony and sandy vineyard where the roots have easy access to water, as the water table is quite close to the surface, which helps the Bordeaux variety to achieve ripeness in the local conditions. From vines that were planted in 1991, the grapes were picked on October 11 at 11 hectoliters per hectare, which is extremely low. It fermented with their own selected yeasts, with a 10-day maceration. It went through malolactic in French oak barrels, 20% of them new, and the élevage was 17 months, 89% in French barriques and 20% in American oak ones. It did achieve ripeness, yes, reaching 15.2% alcohol. It's dark, ripe, showy and really impressive; it's dark and dense, with an oily texture, really powerful. It has abundant but very fine-grained tannins. The wines from 2021 have balance and aromatic complexity. I'm going to be conservative on the drinking window. 2,400 bottles produced. It was bottled in June 2023.
The 2021 PV Petit Verdot from Abadía Retuerta was aged in the same barrel regimen as the 2020 tasted alongside. Finer in style, it offers intense dark fruit, floral notes and a slightly compact finish marked by grip and vibrant flavor. A powerful, energetic wine still finding its balance.