Girard '19 Napa Valley Petit Verdot

Vibrant aromas of boysenberry jam, cherry, and jasmine blossoms leap from the glass. Round on the palate, the fresh acidity lifts powerful flavors of bramble fruit, cocoa, and dried herb flavors. The long finish is emboldened with jammy fruit, velvety tannins and well-integrated oak toast, cinnamon, and cracked pepper spice. 

The year started out with ample rainfall which kept the soils moist and cool into spring. Summer was marked by warm, even daytime temperatures with few extreme heat spikes. The opportune weather conditions continued into late summer and fall. The harvest was of average volume, if not slightly below average, and the fruit quality was exceptional; allowing us to craft wines with texture, structure, and finesse.

Petit Verdot is often only used as a blending component in Cabernet Sauvignon, as a small amount can dramatically impact the overall character of the wine. When possible, we bottle Petit Verdot as a stand-alone wine to highlight this varietal’s distinctive and impressive qualities. 

This wine is a blend from several distinctive vineyards; the Petit Verdot came from Juliana Vineyard in the northeast region of the Napa Valley, while the Malbec was sourced from a treasured site in Yountville, and the Merlot from 
the dusty benchlands of Rutherford.