2014 B. Leighton Petit Verdot Olsen's Brothers Vineyard Washington Red

2014 B. Leighton Petit Verdot Olsen's Brothers Vineyard

95 RP

Featured Review

What I think of as the top cuvee of the estate (although the new Mourvèdre Gratitude cuvee is just about as good), the 2014 Petit Verdot Olsen Vineyard is 100% Petit Verdot, from the same higher elevation site as the Gratitude, that was destemmed and aged 40% in 225-liter barrels. A perfect steak wine with its unctuous, full-bodied and powerful style, it gives up lots of cassis, graphite, crushed rock and violet-like aromas and flavors. While it’s a big wine, it stays remarkably elegant and graceful, with polished tannin and notable freshness. It’s a fabulous expression of this variety. Robert Parker Wine Advocate

Robert Parker | 95 RP

This variety is making waves in Washington and this wine demonstrates why. The aromas are effusive, with notes of dark cherry, dried herb and barrel spice. The palate is filled to the brim with rich fruit flavors that show focus and depth, while the tannins are combed to a fine sheen. It's high on the hedonist scale—a standout offering.

Wine Enthusiast | 93 WE

(from a vineyard at 1,200 feet; 40% new oak): Saturated ruby. Blackberry pastille, blackberry pie and a whiff of oak on the nose. Supple on entry, then juicy and tight in the mid-palate, even a touch reduced, conveying attractively high-pitched flavors of blackberry, blueberry and spices. The very long, penetrating finish features well-managed tannins. Not a fleshy or thick wine, this 100% Petit Verdot should take on greater complexity with time in bottle. (A second bottle tasted more recently showed a more pliant texture and less reduction along with a medicinal herb component but seemed equally in need of patience).

Vinous Media | 91+ VM

Polished and expressive, with dynamic blueberry and kirsch aromas and delicately layered flavors that breeze toward a lively finish. Drink now through 2022. 502 cases made.

Wine Spectator | 90 WS

Type of Wine	Washington Red
Varietal	Petit Verdot
Country	US : As one of the most prolific and innovative wine regions in the world, America is a joy to explore. Most wine connoisseurs will agree that the nation's finest and most compelling wines are being produced today, which means that we have front-row seats to one of the most inspirational stories in wine history. While other regions tend to focus on specific wine styles and have somewhat strict rules as to which varietals you could grow, areas like California have few such restrictions in place. As a result, creative visionaries behind America's most reputable estates have been able to develop compelling, unique, and innovative styles, with a level of terroir expression that rivals even France's largest giants.
Region	Washington : While California definitely owns the spotlight when it comes to excellent American wines, Washington winemakers should certainly not be underestimated. While their traditional focus was set firmly on refreshing, illustrious white wines, they've adopted French red varietals like Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Since then, they've been achieving excellence in both categories and can compete with the world's most prestigious viticultural titans. Flavor-wise, you can expect a healthy amount of variety when it comes to Washington's finest wines. From acidic and fruity bottles that can shake you up from even the deepest slumber or sadness to rich and ripe powerhouses that command the respect of everyone in the room after as much as a single whiff. Juicy raspberries that gently tickle your tongue, deep and noble blackberries, intense cherries and earthen oak - these are the flavors that characterize this region, despite the presence of an entire orchestral symphony of other aromatic notes. A sampling of fine wine from Washington is a lot like being seduced, so why not uncork one of these bottles for a potential or existing partner? With a drink of this quality, those romantic sparks will turn into a fireworks display, as your emotions are laid bare and intensified, and you make a connection that can last a lifetime.