This petit verdot was quite nice. Dark ink in colour. Flavours of blackberries, pepper, leather, dark chocolate. Enjoyable oak smokiness can also be detected. Excellent finish with lingering hints of roasted almonds. Tasted December 2012.

Petit Verdot is also rare in Ontario, and rarer in the form of a single varietal wine (it is usually blended). I had the opportunity to taste this wine twice in the barrel, and when it was finally released I grabbed some and hung onto it, waiting for a special occasion. I finally decided I couldn’t wait any longer and opened a bottle in November. The nose was sweet, rich, almost jammy plums and black cherry, with light notes of vanilla, cedar, and pencil shavings. There is a definite herbaceousness behind the dark fruit that is more noticeable on the palate – not unlike a freshly opened cigar box with cedar and tobacco notes. There’s some decent acidity rounding out this well structured wine. $39, available at the winery.

Interesting, but a little too rough and tannic for me. There's a good reason why this grape is usually blended with Merlot and Cabs!