Andante, D254, and WF Yeast Trial in Petit Verdot (2015)
Matthieu Finot
King Family Vineyards
Summary:
Petit Verdot from the same block was divided into 3 equal lots (wt.), and each lot was inoculated with different yeast. All other additions and treatments were separate but identical. Each lot was pressed, settled, and racked to identical barrels. T - Bin 1 = Andante, T - Bin 2 = D254, T - Bin 3 = WF
Lab Results:
Results:
22.7% preferred Andante, 40.9% preferred D254, and 36.4% preferred WF. WF seemed to reduce the overall phenolic content of the wines.
Descriptive Analysis:
PV Tbin 1
Appearance:
Dark red, deep core, dark magenta/red/purple edges. Blue/red hues. Opaque/a bit cloudy.
Aroma:
Dry meats, slightly smoky, spice, cooked fruit, dried fruit, cranberries, sour cherries, licorice, dark fruit, fig, black pepper/white pepper, slightly floral.
Taste:
Soft entry, astringent and dry. Tart. Grainy tannins. A bit short. Young tannins, sticky but normal, green. Light body, light volume, light structure. Acidic. Seems disjointed.
Overall:
Acidic, astringent young red lacking volume and structure (despite astringency). Somewhat smoky, spicy aromas.
PV Tbin 2
Appearance:
Similar to Tbin 1 - deep core, dark magenta, blue/red hues.
Aroma:
Closed, spice, black pepper, dried fig, less fruity, leathery, smoky, less spicy, more/riper fruit, seems riper, intense floral, incense.
Taste:
Lighter entry, softer structure, less tannins, sour flavor, a bit more volume than Tbin 1, less aggressive tannins. Light body, light structure, short, acidic, green. Better balance than Tbin 1
Overall:
Lighter, less tannic wine than Tbin 1. Seems to have better balance in the mouth. Still has smoky/meaty quality in aromas but also riper fruit characters. Both wines are acidic and somewhat green in tannins, and lacking structure.
PV Tbin 3
Appearance:
A bit darker, less red, less purple. Deep core, dark magenta with blue/red hues. Opaque.
Aroma:
Floral, potpourri, some oak spice, exotic, earthy, cedar, more expressive dark fruit, candy, cinnamon, fresher fruit, baby powder.
Taste:
Soft, rich with structure and volume. Tannins around palate. Lacks mid palate and a bit dry, but young. Has potential. Tannins less green but still sticky. Better balanced.
Overall:
Seems intermediate between 1 and 2. Better balanced, less aggressive and green. Still somewhat light and lacking in mid palate.
