Baehner Fournier Estate Vineyard Petit Verdot 2009: 250 Cases Produced, Estate Grown

Varietals: 100% Petit Verdot

Proprietor: Bob Baehner and Vicki Fournier

Tasting Notes:

Petit Verdot, a late-ripening grape, has recently begun to attract attention in California. The varietal requires patience and care to know the right moment to harvest. In 2009 our small amount of Petit Verdot vines produced a lovely crop. We have decided to showcase the resulting wine all on its own. Rich and intriguing, the wine exhibits aromas of black cherry, violets, and hints of wood smoke. Lush and round in the mouth, it has deeply concentrated flavors and a long supple finish.

Accolades and Awards:

Gold Medal at the 35th Annual Orange County Fair Commercial Wine Competition June  2011

Baehner Fournier Estate Vineyard:

We planted our vineyard ten years ago on a lovely eastern ridge overlooking the Santa Ynez Valley in Santa Barbara County. Our Bordeaux cloned vines matured and adapted to the thin rocky soils, hilly terrain and blustering winds. The winds and heat reduce the need for frequent spraying of the vines. Ground varmints are trapped rather than poisoned. Our resident barn owls help in this process.

Sage and oak trees surround the vineyard. We live in harmony with quail, roadrunners, bobcat, an occasional mountain lion, coyote, deer, rabbits and other wildlife tucked under the surrounding chaparral. This is our concept of sustainable farming and we are committed to it. We believe the grapes prosper and benefit from this natural setting.