Perliss Vineyards The Heron Vittorio's Vineyard Petit Verdot St. Helena 2022

Herbert Perliss came to Napa Valley not in pursuit of wine but of a slower-tempo, country oasis from his San Francisco residence. Almost two decades after moving cross-country in 1971 with the US Military as a physician, he began searching for a property where his family could escape the busy city life. In 1989, Herbert purchased an undeveloped 13-acre parcel in Calistoga, inspired and awed by the vast natural beauty of the site. He established the necessary infrastructure to build two homes tucked into the wooded knolls, and it wasn't until almost two decades later that he started contemplating a block of grapevines. In the timeliest of introductions, Herbert met winemaker Aaron Pott, who convinced him that a bare 2.6-acre section of his property was primed for Cabernet Sauvignon vines. They planted the Ravens Vineyard, named for the frequent avian visitors on the Calistoga property, and have since crafted limited-production Cabernet Sauvignons. Herbert's son, Anthony, joined the company in the late 2000s as an ambassador to promote the brand and sell wine, and now is at the helm.

Aaron Pott is a gregarious, quirky, and tremendously talented winemaker whose bio reads like a Greek epic in which he is the tenacious hero. He credits a French waiter who served him wine in place of milk at the age of 10 with sparking his fascination with wine. After studying viticulture and enology, Aaron shipped off to France expecting to work as a humble cellar rat, completing the menial cleaning tasks to "get your hands dirty" and "work your way up." Except when he arrived, he was immediately promoted to winemaker at Château Troplong Mondot. As a 30-year-old American outsider, Aaron faced considerable pushback from the locals in his role as a winemaker, including an incident in which his car mysteriously caught fire. Yet, he persisted and spent six years in France, absorbing all the wisdom and gaining priceless experiences. From France, Aaron took a position with Beringer as a floating winemaker, which brought him to vineyards across the globe from Italy to Chile and finally back to California, where he worked as Quintessa's winemaker before launching a family brand, Pott Wine, and consulting firm, Huis Clos Consulting, in 2007.

Traditionally, Petit Verdot is relegated to the role of a blending grape, used to enhance the color and concentration of Bordeaux blends. The namesake "petit" berries of this grape cause a higher skin-to-juice ratio, which results in more prominent tannins and deeper hues. Vittorio's Vineyard is situated in the heart of St. Helena on the valley floor and was initially planted in 1976. However, it was replanted 12 years ago with Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. The vines lie on 28 acres of Pleasanton loam soil, a fine, gravelly, and sandy loam. The warmer temperatures in St. Helena, higher up the valley, necessitate significant irrigation to maintain the grapevines. This pairing perfectly complements the well-draining soils in Vittorio's, allowing the grapes to thrive without waterlogging or disease.

Aaron and Anthony were eager to craft a new wine, putting Petit Verdot at center stage, and made just 130 cases of this unique bottling. The name The Heron is a nod to the brand's winged namesake wines and vineyard, and the colloquial French name for Petit Verdot (Heran.) The grapes underwent native fermentation and aged in 100% French oak barrels for almost 21 months. Aaron notes the wine "evokes rich notes of India ink, fennel, blackcurrant, cocoa, tar, and tobacco."