Piazza Del Dotto Petit Verdot
Called to grandparents babysitting duty, we took to our son's house a BYOB to enjoy for the evening with artisan cheese and fresh fruits. We took a favorite label from a favorite producer from a memorable estate visit and tasting in Napa Valley.
We discovered, tasted and acquired this wine during our visit to the winery and as part of the Del Dotto Piazza DELICACIES Food and Wine Experience, which was definitely one of the highlights of our Napa trip.
Piazza Del Dotto Petit Verdot 2014
Regretably this is the last bottle of this label from a multi-case mixed assortment acquired during that visit. At nine years of age, this was likely at the peak of its tasting profile, as good as ever.
We posted earlier tasting notes of this label in 2018 and several times in 2020.
8/13/2020 - 92 Points - Consistent with earlier tasting notes - Dark blackish garnet colored,
full bodied, reasonably balanced, firm forward concentrated black berry
and black currant fruits, with notes of licorice, spice and hints of
mocha and subtle pepper spice with bold but approachable lingering
tannins.
https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2020/08/del-dotto-piazza-napa-valley-petit.html
6/20/2020 - 93 Points - Consistent with earlier tasting, a big hit for our dinner! Dark blackish garnet colored, full bodied, reasonably balanced, firm forward concentrated black berry and black currant fruits, with notes of licorice, spice and hints of mocha and subtle pepper spice with bold but approachable lingering tannins.
https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2020/06/covid-breakout-engagement-celebration.html
2/16/2020 - 92 Points - Dark blackish garnet colored, full bodied, reasonably balanced, firm forward concentrated black berry and black currant fruits, with notes of licorice, spice and hints of mocha and subtle pepper spice with bold but approachable lingering tannins.
https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2020/02/del-dotto-piazza-petit-verdot-2014.html
12/22/2018 - 91 Points - Dark blackish garnet colored, full bodied, nicely balanced, firm
forward concentrated black berry and black currant fruits, with notes of
mocha, spice and hints of pepper spice with smooth lingering tannins.
https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2018/12/gala-holiday-dinner-features-napa-cab.html
Del Dotto Piazza Napa Valley Petit Verdot 2014
Of
course, Petit Verdot is one of the Bordeaux varietals, appellation
authorized for inclusion in the blend. Most often, Petit Verdot is the
fourth varietal in the mix, subordinant to the primary Cabernet
Sauvignon, Merlot, and the secondary Cabernet Franc.
Petit Verdot is added to a red blend for structure, backbone and colour,
to round out, augment and enhance the profile of the blend. Standing
alone, without the core Cabernet, and the softening roundness of Merlot,
and the hint of tangy spice added by Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot comes
across as huge, bold, muscular and forward, perhaps awkward or obtuse
and overpowering to some.
Indeed, those are the characteristics I love in a wine and while lacking
polish and balance of the harmony of the overall blend, its a wonderful
wine with bold and full flavored food such as tonight. I wish I had
ordered more and will savor what we have, and miss it when it is gone.
I'll be looking to top up our holdings of this label.
Tonight this was as good as any previous tasting, showing well, benefiting from nearly of decade of graceful aging in the cellar. Wish we had more! Dark blackish garnet colored, full bodied, reasonably balanced, firm forward
concentrated black berry and black currant fruits, with notes of licorice,
spice and hints of mocha and subtle pepper spice with bold but approachable lingering tannins.
RM 93 points.
We also acquired some of the 2015 vintage of this label which I took to a
gala tasting of which I blogged about last winter in this posting:
https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2018/12/gala-holiday-dinner-features-napa-cab.html
https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=2757017
https://www.deldottovineyards.com/visit/piazza
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