Meeker Vineyard
2002 Petit Verdot "The Beautiful and Damned"

Appellation: Mendocino, California

Really interesting and fun wine - reminded me of a cross between a big Australian Syrah/Cab blend and a big Argentine Malbec. It's vaguely on the Cabernet calibration curve, but at its far reaches. Muscular, extremely spicy and chewy wine displaying ripe blackberry and black raspberry fruit on top of a deep plum/prune-like (but not over-ripe-tasting) core, with a touch of violets in the background. Zin-like depth but beautifully balanced and youthful as a toddler at age 8. A really nice alternative to the more typical reds in the marketplace. Fairly priced for the quality.