Austin Hope Petit Verdot 2021

Austin Hope Petit Verdot 2021
Vineyard Notes:
We source this Petit Verdot from a vineyard originally planted in the early 1970’s. Now replanted, this vineyard site continues to prove itself. Situated in the Estrella district in loamy and gravely river plain slopes and canyons, this vineyard’s microclimate can be extreme with spring frosts and high temperatures in the summer. However, it is located on the east side f the Paso robles basin where cooling breezes come from the west, creating true 40-degree diurnal swings each day of the growing season.
The 2021 growing season was very typical through early spring with warm days and cool nights. Early summer through harvest gave us some unexpected heatwaves but plenty of marine breezes and mild weather prevailed. The result was a slight delay of harvest while we waited for acidity, pH and brix to balance creating mature flavors.
Winemaking notes:
After harvest, the Petit Verdot was fermented in stainless-steel tanks for 10-14 days. Extended macerations and carefully managed pump overs enhanced the extraction of color and tannin. The Petit Verdot was aged for 9 months in 100% newer American Oak. The lots were racked only once during its cellar life, with the final racking occurring to blend, just prior to filtering and bottling in mid-July of 2022