Deep purple-colored, the 2015 Petit Verdot Olsen Brother's Vineyard is 100% varietal that spent 22 months in 40% new French oak. It's a beautiful wine loaded with notions of blueberries, leafy herbs, hints of wet stone, and graphite. It's full-bodied, gorgeously pure, and vibrant, with a focused, balanced style. It's as elegant, pure, and seamless as this variety gets. Hats off to winemaker Brennan Leighton.

92+ 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. -- Stephen Tanzer