Thursday, December 10, 2020

Marked Tree 2017 Petit Verdot, North Carolina

Marked Tree 2017 Petit VerdotThink Petit Verdot is just a blending grape? Uncork this bottle and flip the script.

Not So Petite

Those who spend their time thinking or drinking wine, might be surprised with this bottle. At a recent tasting with Arthur Barham, of Merlot2Muscadine, he opened this bottle of Marked Tree 2017 Petit Verdot from North Carolina.

Keep up with the latest. Follow us on Instagram!

Petit Verdot’s main claim to fame is as an important blending grape in France’s Bordeaux wines. It has intense color, beautiful aroma, and good tannic structure. It’s usually 10% or less in red blends – but there are some single varietal bottles out there.

So, this wine is a revelation in a couple of ways. First, it’s a 100% Petit Verdot. Second, if you are not familiar with the great wines made in North Carolina, you might be surprised at the smashing craftsmanship and quality.

Ancient Navigation

Marked Tree Petit Verdot LabelMarked Tree Vineyard is located in Flat Rock on the eastern Continental Divide. It’s in the Crest of the Blue Ridge AVA and situated at an elevation of 2,300 feet. The sloped hills provide good drainage for the vines and the warm days and cool nights allow the grapes sufficient time to develop nuanced flavor and character as they ripen.

Never Miss A Beat – Follow Vino-Sphere On Facebook

Early settlers in the area noticed oddly shaped trees. The trees were formed and shaped by Native Americans to point out water, hunting grounds, a locations of food. The ancient navigation system now points directly to really outstanding wine.

The vineyard’s location and North Carolina’s climate allows the Petit Verdot to ripen more so than in France. The 2017 Petit Verdot is fermented in oak barrels and is a 75-barrel production.

Arthur and I savored this during a rainy, socially-distant tasting. The wine has 12.5% ABV, significantly lower than what you might expect from a bottle of red. To me, that means it can be a great food wine. “Hot” wines with high alcohol content often overpower the delicate flavors of a meal.

In the glass the Marked Tree PV has flavors of blackberry and plum. There is a striking note of minerality that we love plus floral and herbal notes. This wine cries out for an herb-crusted lamb chop! 

We can’t wait to visit this winery and check out their other great wines, including Cabernet Franc and Grüner Veltliner.

No comments: