BLANKbottle "Pat Bird" Petit Verdot '21

You won’t find the varieties that go into any bottle of BLANKbottle listed on the label, and that’s at least in part because its winemaker and founder, Pieter Walser, doesn’t want you to know what they are before tasting the wine. It’s a way to soften any preconceived notions you might have of a wine before you taste it, so that you focus instead on its quality. In other words, it’s a sort of “don’t judge a book by its cover” approach. And while we at Perman support that premise, we’re also going to do the opposite and give you all the information about “Pat Bird” that you’d expect.

Pieter sources grapes for his wines from vineyards throughout the Western Cape. “Pat Bird” is made from 100% Petit Verdot grown in Stellenbosch, harvested from 2 different sites: a super lower-Helderberg property, with decomposed granite; and a heavier, more extracted site in the Blaauwklippen Valley. The grapes were destemmed and placed in open-top fermenters. The juice underwent spontaneous fermentation and stayed on the skins for as long as possible. It was then pressed into older French oak small barrels, spent 18 months in barrel, and was then blended and bottled. 
 
The “Pat Bird” Petit Verdot shows a bold red and black fruit profile, with notes of red and black cherry and plum, blackberry, violets and lilacs, a touch of Christmas spice, and a touch of soft green herbs. Full bodied on the palate, with moderate-plus tannins and moderate acidity, the finish is plush and juicy. Pair it with pulled pork, brisket, or a spiced lamb dish with mint and pomegranate.