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.
The new wines come from the 2021 vintage which was warm and dry. The wines I have tasted from ’21 have been really fantastic. I love the new 2021 PerUs ‘Alessio’ Red Wine (OB, 97) which is wonderfully concentrated and shows beautiful depth with some serious cellaring potential. I was floored by the stunning 2021 PerUs ‘Armaan’ Cabernet Sauvignon (OB, 98) which is a stunning expression of Oakville, sourced from the esteemed Tench Vineyard. This is a bold, hedonistic expression of Napa. Learn more about this famed boutique winery at https://www.peruswine.com/pages/home.php Here are the stunning new releases by PerUs.
2021 PerUs ‘Janeen’ Cabernet Sauvignon- A mere 120 cases was made of the fantastic 2021 ‘Janeen’ was mostly sourced from the Sage Ridge Vineyard, with smaller parts from the Sugar Loaf Vineyard. Garerigue and red bell pepper notes combine with blueberry compote on the nose. The palate is plush wit hloads of concentration, finesse and firm tannins. Turkish coffee, boysenberry cordial, dark chocolate shavings and graphite flavors wonderfully meld together on the palate, with a seductive texture. Finishing long this glorious wine will live on for another twenty years to come. Drink 2023-2041- 97
2021 PerUs ‘Armaan’ Cabernet Sauvignon- The brilliant 2021 ‘Arnaan’ Cabernet Sauvignon mainly comes from the 61 acre Tench Vineyard which is set in the Oakville AVA. Tar and anise line the nose alongside allspice dusted blackberries and shades of creme de violette. The palate is rich and viscous, with espresso grounds and violets, alongside huckleberry fruit flavors. The marvelous tension combines with a length mineral and black fruit-laden finish Seductive and delicious, enjoy this beautiful wine now and over the next fifteen plus years to come. Drink 2023–2041- 98
2021 PerUs ‘Alessio’ Red Wine- The 2021‘Alessio’ is a spellbinding combination of Sugarloaf Vineyard Merlot (60%) with equal parts Tench Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon and Sugarloaf Vineyard Cabernet Franc. Black tea and exotic spices combine with espresso grounds, black raspberry puree and shades of black rose petals on the nose. The palate is soft and refined with a silky texture and wonderful sense of length and weight. This is seriously good stuff, where you can see each working part moving in seamless unison. Drink 2023-2041- 97
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