Decades 5 Petit Verdot is handcrafted by consulting winemaker Jean Hoefliger. Jean brings years of experience to Napa Valley, having worked at esteemed wineries throughout the world such as Chateau Lynch Bages, Meerlust Estate, Newton Vineyard and axr napa valley.
Jean’s philosophy in working with Petit Verdot in Napa Valley is to maintain as much of the natural integrity of the varietal and vineyard as possible. Sourcing from warmer blocks in the heart of Stagecoach Vineyard, our Petit Verdot enjoys a long growing season, allowing for fully ripened berries. Only yeasts that are naturally present on each cluster are used in the fermentation of Decades 5. This captures the unique identity of Petit Verdot from this vineyard, and its inherent complexities that create an identifiable wine. Each of these yeasts imparts a layer that contributes to both the mouthfeel and flavor profile of our wine.
Each berry that eventually becomes Decades 5 is hand-picked and hand-sorted for optimal ripeness and balance, ensuring the highest quality in each bottle. This wine is then barrel fermented in new French oak from several of the world’s most prestigious cooperages: Emitage, Marques, Vicard, Radoux, and Sylvain. By fermenting Petit Verdot in barrel, the naturally powerful tannins soften and become more integrated into the resulting wine.
