Question One - Petit Verdot

[Michael McNally]

So some use it as a blend. Some have a straight one . What is good, and what is not folks? Obviously if we are talking blends there would have to be a fair whack of PV to be qualify.

Cheers

Michael

[Waiters Friend]

Hay Shed Hill in Margaret River make a lovely straight PV.

Across the country, Sirromet make a straight PV, but more interesting is their sparkling PV.

[n4sir]

From McLaren Vale, both Pirramimma & Gemtree's "The Phantom" are good examples of the varietal that immediately come to mind.

Cheers,
Ian

[ChrisV]

The last time I had Gemtree's it had extremely bitter, aggressive tannins. The Pirramimma is usually good though.

[n4sir]

The last time I had Gemtree's it had extremely bitter, aggressive tannins. The Pirramimma is usually good though.

Which vintage are you referring to?

I tried the 2007 with a lot of the other Gemtree wines a few months ago at an instore and mentioned to Mike Brown I didn't think it was as good as the 2005, to which he sarcastically replied "what, not enough tannins for you?"

It's always a wine for the brave early on, and all vintages have tannins strong enough to turn your face inside out when they rip every last drop of moisture from your cheeks, but the better ones have the fruit to go with it too. Mike thinks the 2008 is as good as the 2005, but while it was available for sale it unfortunately wasn't on the tasting bench that day (man, I hate it when that happens).

Cheers,
Ian

[Sean O'Sullivan]

deleted

[MilduraBob]

Michael,
Try the Trentham Estate PV, have always found it good. For something a bit different their PV / Tannat is a very interesting wine. Might only be available cd though. Another one from the same region is a Mulcra Estate Reserve PV that always drinks well.
Cheers,
Bob.

[GrahamB]

I had the Petit Verdot from Winery 1847 in the Barossa a few years ago. Just loved it but most went to o'seas markets. Could be available here again soon with the strength of the dollar.

[Mahmoud Ali]

My understanding is that Petit Verdot requires a long hot summer, albeit within a cooler region, to develop properly. Hence in Bordeaux they use very little of it since it only ripens in the best of vintages. Many chateaux have given up on it.

This is where Geoff Johnston of Pirramimma stepped in. While working in Bordeaux and seeing the difficulty of Petit Verdot ripening properly he thought that the climate in the McLaren Vale might well suit the variety. On his return to the family property he planted Petit Verdot and I believe that Pirramimma's was the first commercially sold version of the varietal.

The 1997 version was the first I tasted, at cellar door, and I thought it was an excellent wine, perhaps not for immediate consuption but certainly for cellaring. I put a couple of bottles away and went on to add the 1998 and 1999 bottlings. They're still cellaring away.

I haven't had many other producers' Petit Verdot but they never came close to Pirramimma's structure and depth.

Cheers.....................Mahmoud.

[Maroon&Blue]

Visited Water Wheel Winery ( central vic ) last year, tried & liked their 08 Petit Verdot.

On another visit to the Granite Belt region( QLD)..........NOT SO GOOD examples!!

Cheers

Ronaldo

[Rawshack]

For a cheapie, try the Dean De Bortoli Vat something or other. The last vintage I tried (2007?) was present, correct and not too bad for around $10. A nice introduction to the variety

To be honest, I don't really see any merit as using this as a straight varietal, but different strokes for different folks etc.

[Gary W]

Tassell Park in Margaret do some good work with it.
GW