B. Leighton Olsen Brothers Vineyard Petit Verdot 2016 (Yakima Valley, Washington) - [JD 94] [VM 92+] [JS 91] [WA 90]

B. Leighton Olsen Brothers Vineyard Petit Verdot 2016
(Yakima Valley, Washington) - [JD 94] [VM 92+] [JS 91] [WA 90]


$60.00 $46.97 Save $13.03
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JD94 VM92+ JS91 WA90
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Tasting Notes by Winemaker Brennon Leighton:

“I know what you’re thinking: Petit Verdot, hard tannic, not very nice...but you would be wrong. Instead, supple, charming and pretty. Dark, vibrant, and very expressive. Fire roasted chilies, fresh violets, blackberry, marjoram, crushed seashells, black fruit compote. Very stylish with an elegant mouth feel and long finish. I could sit down with friends and drink the sh*t out of this wine. What are you waiting for?!”

Vintage:
The 2016 vintage started early and warm in Washington State. When summer arrived, the season saw cooler evenings that helped retain acidity, extended the growing and ripening period into September and October. This allowed the fruit to gain more complexity and deeper charm without sacrificing the acid or producing higher alcohol content. The vintage has created deeply rich and focused wines that we will be able to enjoy for a long time to come.

Ratings & Reviews

94 Points - Jeb Dunnuck:
"Lastly, the 2016 Petit Verdot comes from a higher elevation block and was brought up in 40% new French oak. It has a great bouquet of white pepper, chocolatey dark fruits, tobacco, and a kiss of violets to go with a full-bodied, incredible elegant profile on the palate. You don’t find Petit Verdot with this level of finesse very often, and it has silky tannins, good mid-palate concentration, and a great finish. It’s another stunning wine from Leighton I’d be thrilled to drink over the coming 10-15 years." (March 2020)

92+ Points - Vinous:
"Saturated ruby. Slightly high-toned aromas of blackberry, violet and licorice. Extremely backward and bracing in the mouth, with juicy, penetrating flavors of black fruits, pencil lead, licorice and black olive. There's a black pepper element here that does not really shade to green. Shows no easy sweetness but avoids the pyrazine character shown by some other Washington Petit Verdots. Finishes pungent and very long, with black pepper lift. This very youthful wine, a bit tighter than the '15 release at a similar stage of its evolution, boasts terrific definition without going dry. Brennon Leighton notes that this wine always carries a moderate pH and strong acidity; he suggests pairing it with pepper-crusted steak. (15% alcohol)" Drink 2021-2029. - Stephen Tanzer (July 2018)

91 Points - James Suckling:
"A very good petit verdot with lots of ripeness and focus. The tannins frame the wine nicely. It’s flavorful and interesting. Drink now." (June 2020)

90 Points - Wine Advocate:
"The 2016 Petit Verdot Olsen Vineyard has a rigid and dense expression on the nose with aromas of dark berries and chocolaty tones. Full-bodied on the palate, the wine becomes massive, with firm tannins and a bold structure. The mid-palate builds with anticipation of getting grippier and firmer as time passes, showing a massively weighted wine with a long, tight, lingering finish. This going to need food, or it is going to need some time to come around. Only 379 cases made." Drink 2020-2030. - Anthony Mueller (December 2019)