2020 Fathom

93 points - Wine Enthusiast

"Fresh aromas of violet and black currant make for a very vibrant nose on this bottling from a newer vineyard in the eastern reaches of the valley. The palate is snappy in acidity and juicy in fruits, with blackberry, violet and light herb flavors."

— Matt Kettmann

The name FATHOM is about me trying to "fathom" and wrap my brain around this variety. I do believe this is Santa Barbara County’s best Bordeaux variety at this point. Petit Verdot is generally used very sparingly in blends, usually 3 - 4%. This is because in other growing regions, this variety is like a brute, and the conventional wisdom says if you use too much, it can take your beautiful Bordeaux blend and push it right off a cliff. However, here in the Santa Ynez Valley, namely Happy Canyon, we're experiencing beautifully structured, yet soft, Petit Verdot. This wine is aromatic, delivering all kinds of fruit, including blackberry and violet, to the senses. This wine is big, with an uncanny ability to age. Ten years, no problem. Probably glorious in fifteen, if not twenty.

FATHOM represents comprehension. It represents 25+ years of me trying to wrap my brain around the Bordeaux varieties as a group in the warmer ends of Santa Barbara County. It started out with my fascination with Cabernet Franc, then migrated through a 20-year study of Cabernet Sauvignon, and has now landed on my startling discovery of an enigmatically wonderful new grape. It’s me trying to fathom the enormous potential for Petit Verdot.