Vineyard Sources

This richly flavored grape, long known for its intense characteristics, has been grown side by side with Zinfandel in Dry Creek Valley for over 140 years. Petite Sirah has been planted on our vineyard since the early 1900s and used in our Zinfandel production as an important part of the blend. The “Family Vineyard” connection is with Carol Bushnell who is John and Jim Pedroncelli’s niece; this vineyard has been a source of fruit since the 1940s. Since the inaugural vintage of 1997, John blended this lot with the fruit from their vineyard. Petite Sirah has been grown on this vineyard for over 60 years.

Winemaking

Harvested the first week of October, the grapes were brought in with good ripeness and acidity. The fruit was crushed into stainless steel tanks where frequent pumping-over of the juice during fermentation allowed the young wine a substantial increase in flavor. The color extracted from the skins turns the wine a very deep purple color. The wine was aged for twelve months in American and French oak barrels, one quarter new oak balanced with seasoned barrels.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

Appellation: Dry Creek Valley Barrel Aging: 12 months in American and French oak Alcohol: 13.9% pH: 3.52 Total acidity: .645g/100ml Bottled: November 2007

Technical Information

Opaque purple in the glass. Rich with ripe blackberry, black pepper and chocolate flavors. Very deep and complex, this wine should be opened and decanted if enjoyed before 2010. Expect this wine to take on complexities for the next 8-12 years. This wine will age well for at least 15 years--it has the structure to evolve nicely.

Recipe Pairings

• Apple Butter Spice Cake
• Apricot-Almond Biscotti
• Beef Tournedos with Blue Cheese Mashed Potatoes
• Beef Lasagne
• Creamless Creamy Tomato Soup
• Braised Lamb Shanks with White Beans
• Minestrone
• Joe’s Chili-spiced burgers
• Red Hot Beans
• Quick Tuscan Bean Soup
• Mexican Rice
• Moroccan Beef Stew

 

Back to Wines

This item is no longer
available for purchase

Back to Wines