2015 B. Leighton Petit Verdot Olsen Brothers Vineyard Washington Red

2015 B. Leighton Petit Verdot Olsen Brothers Vineyard

95 JD

Featured Review

The flagship cuvée of this label, the 2015 Petit Verdot is all varietal and saw an extended maceration of close to 40 days and was aged in 40% new French oak. It has beautiful blue fruits, violets, sappy green herbs, and a kiss of graphite to go with a full-bodied, concentrated, seamless style on the palate. I love its purity of fruit, it has good acidity, and present yet polished tannins. Give bottles another couple of years and enjoy over the following decade. Jeb Dunnuck

Jeb Dunnuck | 95 JD

Big, round and salubrious plums and blackberries here. Soft swirling tannins that deliver plenty of energy and depth. Pleasure machine. Drink or hold.

James Suckling | 93 JS

Offering up brooding aromas of smoky black cherries, crème de cassis and violets, the 2015 Petit Verdot Olsen Vineyard is full-bodied and powerful, with an ample core of fruit framed by rich structuring tannins, and it has a long, savory finish. While it's a very superb standalone expression of Petit Verdot, and certainly the most powerful wine in the range, I gravitated toward the two Rhône bottlings reviewed here.

Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 93 RP

Full ruby-red. Crushed blackberry and boysenberry, licorice and menthol on the rather inky nose, accented by violet and black pepper. Densely packed but not at all hard, conveying an inky cast to its brambly dark berry, spice and violet flavors. Benefits from the added richness of the 2015 vintage, but perhaps most impressive today on the very long, rising, firmly tannic yet suave finish--not to mention for its refined texture. Plenty of thickness here but possesses the bracing acid spine to prevent any heaviness; this wine really benefits from the extra energy of a vineyard at 1,200 feet. A splendid--and splendidly complete--varietal Petit Verdot. I'd love to taste this bottling in its full maturity.

Vinous Media | 92+ VM

Plush and polished, showing a complex core framed by fleshy blueberry and cherry flavors, accented by licorice and spice notes that linger on the finish. Drink now through 2025. 478 cases made.

Wine Spectator | 92 WS

Aromas of cherry meats, spice, high-toned green herb, orange peel, citrus and earth are followed by focused, tart, citrusy flavors, with firm tannins providing support. Put it on the dinner table to see it at its best.

Wine Enthusiast | 90 WE

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.