Priest Ranch Petite Sirah 2010
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Robert
Parker
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2010 Petite Sirah is drinking surprisingly well for a wine that will last for 25 years. The Priest Ranch wines are made from specific blocks of the Somerston Estate vineyards planted at high altitudes of 820 feet to 2,400 feet. Priest Ranch also produces a Petite Sirah from the Somerston Vineyard. The three vintages I tasted displayed similar alcohols, ranging from 15.1% to 15.3% (interestingly, the 2011 had the highest). These are exactly what one expects from this varietal: inky/purple in color with notes of camphor, charcoal, white flowers, roasted meats, pepper and black and blue fruits.
Undoubtedly proving its merit over and over, Napa Valley is a now a leading force in the world of prestigious red wine regions. Though Cabernet Sauvignon dominates Napa Valley, other red varieties certainly thrive here. Important but often overlooked include Merlot and other Bordeaux varieties well-regarded on their own as well as for their blending capacities. Very old vine Zinfandel represents an important historical stronghold for the region and Pinot noir is produced in the cooler southern parts, close to the San Pablo Bay.
Perfectly situated running north to south, the valley acts as a corridor, pulling cool, moist air up from the San Pablo Bay in the evenings during the hot days of the growing season, which leads to even and slow grape ripening. Furthermore the valley claims over 100 soil variations including layers of volcanic, gravel, sand and silt—a combination excellent for world-class red wine production.