2021 “Black Bear” Petit Verdot

TASTING NOTES
This is a big, wild, beauty that we will be enjoying well into retirement before it shows any sign of aging. Powerful and dense, with concentrated black fruit and dusty licorice flavors, with a distinctive beam of lavender, and bright acidity that cuts through the dense, dark structure.

VOLCANIC VINEYARD SITE
Obsidian Ridge Vineyard is sits on a volcanic flow at the northern tip of the Mayacamas Range at a half mile of elevation. Vines planted in 1999 on red volcanic soils shot with black obsidian are subject to an unforgiving, mountain climate. Low humidity, cold night time temperatures, and ultraviolet exposure 10% greater than at sea level all contribute to developing small grapes with dark color, thick skins, and intense flavors.
 
THREE ELEVATION ZONES
The estate is planted primarily to Cabernet Sauvignon across three climactic zones ranging from 2,300 to 2,800 feet. The uppermost portion sits above the inversion layer on the steepest, rockiest slope, ten degrees warmer on average than the lowest elevation of the vineyard. A singular block of Petit Verdot is planted at exactly a half mile of elevation, on a wild corner surrounded on three sides by pine and chapparal forest.

HUNGARIAN BARRELS
Obsidian wines are aged in 100% Hungarian oak barrels. Our source forest in Tokaj is planted to the same oak species used in France, Quercus Petraea, however the trees grow more slowly due to the volcanic soils, resulting in 30% higher density of the wood. These super-tight-grain barrels are low in vanillan and relatively high in eugenol, which emphasize herbal and spice components, and are toasted slowly at low temperatures to avoid imparting overt toasty notes. For our Petit Verdot, we use exclusively Kádár Tokaj barrels from our own cooperage. Aged 18 months in 2 and 3-year-old barrels to help round tannins.

Alex Beloz, Winemaker