Jefferson Vineyards

Thomas Jefferson was America's first wino/wine geek/vinophile, so it's far from surprising that he planted his own vineyard – in 1774. Jefferson and Italian Filippo Mazzei planted the vineyard right next to Monticello – and today Jefferson Vineyards resides on the same plot of land. Of course, the vines they use today aren't from 1774, but they do date to 1981.

You don't see very many varietal Petit Verdots on the market (there do seem to be more lately though), but Jefferson Vineyards’ 2002 Petit Verdot is a standout that proves the grape’s viability. Inky purple in the glass with a black core and thin violet rim, this is and extremely aromatic wine with blueberries, black fruit and smoky black pepper.

The forepalate is intense with a burst of dark fruit, black pepper and smoky oak. Medium tannins provide nice structure here. Petit Verdot is known for delivering big up front and then fading quickly, and while this wine does show some of that, there is enough length here to make this a delicious, interesting wine that I'd drink any day. I'm imagining it along spicy smoked ribs and other spicy meats.

Reviewed August 23, 2006 by Lenn Thompson.