Your ears tend to perk up when Russell Bevan has a new project. PerUs is an ultra-premium producer of red wines out of Napa, sourcing from some great vineyards including Sugarloaf Mountain and Edcora Vineyard (high elevation site). PerUs was founded by Anmol Bhandari who was born and raised in New Delhi, immigrated to the United States and built a successful career in finance – initially at Goldman Sachs and later co-founding Cians Analytics based in New York – a company that provides research and analytical support to international financial institutions. Anmol was introduced to Dustin Wilson, Master Sommelier, and they both would travel to the Napa Valley to research both vineyards and winemakers. Dustin introduced Ammol to Russell Bevan, one of the world’s great winemakers. PerUs only made 30 cases in their first vintage, 2013. They now make a downright killer range of wines that not only offer heady dark fruits but wonderful underlying finesse.
I recently had the chance to try the new 2019 PerUS releases and was increidbly impressed with the overall quality. I adored the new 2019 PerUs ‘Alessio’ Red Wine (OB, 97) which is massive and tannic with a beautiful core of dark fruits. Even better is the sensational 2019 PerUs ‘Armaan’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 98) which is a stunning expression of Oakville, coming from the Tench Vineyard. Uabashedly bold, the viscosity and tension in the wine is flat out fabulous. Learn more about this famed boutique winery at https://www.peruswine.com/pages/home.php Here are the stunning new releases by PerUs.
2019 PerUs ‘Janeen’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2019 ‘Janeen’ comes from the Sage Ridge Vineyard, as this shows gobs of heady dark and blue fruits not he nose with allspice and cardamom notes alongside shades of dried herbal undertones. The palate is soft and seamless with serious flavor density and a weightless experience, as this effortlessly glides. Massive and broad-shouldered, this has a wonderful aging potential. Drink 2022-2040- 96
2019 PerUs ‘Ines’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2019 ‘Ines’ Cabernet Sauvignon comes from the Houyi Vineyard on Pritchard Hill. The nose is downright seductive with exotic spices alongside black plum, mocha, anise and tar notes. The palate is deep and well-structured, with a seamless texture and shows graphite and an intense combination of black and blue fruits. Really good to enjoy now, consume this opulent Cabernet Sauvignon over the next fifteen to twenty years. Drink 2022-2040- 97
2019 PerUs ‘Armaan’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The 2019 ‘Arnaan’ Cabernet Sauvignon is largely sourced from the 61 acre Tench Vineyard in the Oakville AVA. Once on the nose this takes on layers of huckleberry cordial, Turkish coffee grounds, pencil lead and shades of Black Forest cake. The palate is soft and seamless throughout the drinking experience. Dense and chewy, the wine shows an underlying verve and tension that makes this nearly impossible to put down once opened. Finishing long with wet gravel and hedonistic black and blue fruits, this is a seductive, beautiful example of Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink 2022-2040- 98
2019 PerUs ‘Lyla’ Red Wine- The 2019 ‘Lyla’ is a stunning proprietary blend of Sugarloaf Mountain Vineyard Merlot with Tench Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon that reveals tar, mocha, roasted dates and a graphite edge on the palate. Full-bodied with plenty of finesse, this beautiful wine is now really hitting its stride — and will continue to evolve well for another fifteen plus years. Drink 2022-2037- 95
2019 PerUs ‘Alessio’ Red Wine- The 2019 ‘Alessio’ blends Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc, as this is deeply perfumed on the nose. Black rose, creosote and pencil lead notes combine on the nose with a massive core of black and blue fruits. The palate is very well-balanced and fresh, with tremendous depth and an exceedingly long finish. Gratifying to enjoy now, consume this beauty over the next fifteen to twenty years. Drink 2022-2040- 97
2019 PerUs ‘Bryn’ Red Wine- The 2019 ‘Bryn’ combines Tench Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon with Sugarloaf Mountain Merlot. It is a soft and refined edition with a silky mouthfeel. Highly approachable now, with loads of creme de cassis, violets and tar notes, this beautiful wine is already showing beautifully now — and will continue to provide drinking enjoyment over the next fifteen plus years. Drink 2022-2037- 95