Matchbook Estate Bottled Petit Verdot showcases the advantage of the Dunnigan Hills appellation’s long growing season: the varietal characteristics of deep, rich flavors develop fully when allowed to slowly ripen well into the fall. The wine opens with beautiful aromas of lavender, clove and sweet pipe tobacco. The flavors are a bold, complex mix of blueberry, cola, chocolate, anise and fig. The texture is thick with a nice grip of tannins up front that mellow to a silky smoothness in the finish.
Production Notes
The estate grown grapes were gently crushed 20 minutes after harvest and transferred to small temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks for a 24-hour cold soak. The wine was inoculated with two kinds of yeast for enhanced color and moderate fermentation rates. Fermentation temperature was kept low (75°F) for first half of the fermentation then let rise to 85°F. This helps to enhance fruit characters and minimize excessive tannins. After pressing at dryness, wines were barrel aged separately for 6 months. The final blend of Petit Verdot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec was barrel aged for another 16 months.
Pairings
This is the wine for those who love a strong, assertive red wine with their charred steak and smokey barbeque.