Carneros Wine Company Fleur Petite Sirah 2010
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Francis and Kathy Mahoney set out to realize a dream: to grow Pinot Noir that would stand up to the French Burgundies. Although centuries of experience in French vineyards and cellars has proven Pinot Noir to be a most difficult varietal to nurture, the Mahoneys decided to challenge the possibilities in Northern California’s soil and climate. Francis was captivated by the concept of terroir – the influence of soil, wind, fog, sun exposure, and rainfall on the style of wine they produced. Turning his focus towards the undiscovered “Los Carneros” region in the southern portion of Napa and Sonoma valleys, Francis felt that conditions in this wind-swept countryside were ideal for Pinot Noir to thrive. So it was here that the Mahoneys set their roots.
Using his Carneros vineyards as his laboratory, Francis, along with a team from U.C. Davis, began a tedious clonal research project to better understand the intricacies of the more successful clonal selections. Over the course of that twelve-year research project, it became evident that the best Pinot Noir was not to be found in a single clonal selection. Each of the clones had unique flavor, structure, and aromatic characteristics and each had its own preference for vineyard location, pruning techniques, watering regime, soil type, sun exposure, barrel and bottle aging. Calling on his experience in the cellars of Burgundy, the profile of superb Pinot Noir ingrained in his memory, Francis began blending the clones together like the colors on an artist’s palette, to create the distinctive styles of Pinot Noir now showcased at the Mahoney Vineyards. The Mahoneys continue to expand the possibilities of the Carneros region as they explore other exciting varieties with origins in the Old World.
Francis Mahoney appointed Ken Foster, veteran Pinot Noir Winemaker, to oversee production at Mahoney Vineyards in June, 2002. The former Winemaker/Production
Manager at David Bruce Winery in California’s Santa Cruz Mountains, Ken had been
making wine there for 15 years. Ken was an instrumental factor in changing the focus
of that winery from Chardonnay to Pinot Noir, Petite Sirah, and Zinfandel. By focusing
on small-lot production, Ken emphasized gentle handling and separation of small wine
lots for potential vineyard designate as well as appellation-labeled wines.
With its deep color, firm tannins and bold flavors, there is nothing petite about Petite Sirah. The variety, originally known as Durif in the Rhône, took on its more popular moniker after being imported to California in the early 1880s. Quintessentially recognized today as a grape of the Golden State, Petite Sirah works well blended with Zinfandel and finds success as a single varietal wine in the state’s warmer districts. Somm Secret—Petite Sirah is not a smaller version of Syrah but it is an offspring of Syrah and the now nearly extinct French Alpine variety called Peloursin.
Reaching up California's coastline and into its valleys north of San Francisco, the North Coast AVA includes six counties: Marin, Solano, Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino and Lake. While Napa and Sonoma enjoy most of the glory, the rest produce no shortage of quality wines in an intriguing and diverse range of styles.
Climbing up the state's rugged coastline, the chilly Marin County, just above the City and most of Sonoma County, as well as Mendocino County on the far north end of the North Coast successfully grow cool-climate varieties like Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and in some spots, Riesling. Inland Lake County, on the other hand, is considerably warmer, and Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel and Sauvignon Blanc produce some impressive wines with affordable price tags.