If you love your licorice notes, then put down that Zin because I think you’ll take a liking to the 2006 St. Supéry Petit Verdot.

On the nose, classic floral notes come across in true Petit Verdot fashion, dominated by lavender, and then there’s the licorice – and I’m not talking here about the plasticy North American black Twizzlers or the Australian “almost there but not quite” variety, but the kind of real licorice root-derived black stuff that makes your mouth water and it seems can only be made in some northern corners of Europe (Finland, I miss your old-fashioned licorices!).

On the palate, plum comes on strong with subtler hints of something festive – cloves perhaps. The rich dark berries stay with you, reminding you this is most definitely a new world wine. The tannins are firm yet pillowy.

This wine is deep and dense, inky purple in color. It’s big as the Napa valley it comes from. Unfortunately, the price is equally big. I’d be hard-pressed to buy this wine for more than a special occasion, and there’s maybe “10 bones” as Gary Vee might say that could be shaved off the price (a discount which Club Members do actually enjoy, by the way).

The branding is something I’m a fan of. From the faux euro-sainthood in the name to the intricate details on the label, there’s a sort of mystique that I enjoy and don’t want to get behind to find out it’s perhaps just for the marketing. This is as Brandalicious a wine as any I’ve tasted this summer.

This is winery exclusive, which we picked up two summers ago at the winery as we made our way up through the valley a couple summers back. Tucked along St. Helena Hwy. in Rutherford, the St. Supéry Estate winery is an easy stop. Not as luxe and manicured as some of it neighbors – Mr. Coppola, I’m looking at you, sir! – the massive tree in its front yard is what I remember best, and that old white house. There was a sense of subtlety to the property.