Pellegrini Vineyards 2007 Petit Verdot ($40) offers intense aromas of cassis and blueberry fruit with notes of tobacco, toasty oak, dried mint and gamy grilled meat.

Full bodied, but a bit hot on the finish, the palate has a nice minty edge to its burly dark fruit profile. Chewy, with grippy tannin and fairly high acid, the finish is very dry and a bit rustic — showing significant oak character and a lingering bitterness.

On day two, the fruit had faded significantly, leaving the wine less balanced.

Producer: Pellegrini Vineyards
AVA: North Fork of Long Island
ABV: 13.5%
Price: $40*

(2.5 out of 5, Average-to-Very Good)

2007, featured, pellegrini vineyards, petit verdot, Review