Winemaker Notes
Blend: 96% Petite Sirah, 3% Grenache Blanc, 1% Roussanne
Professional Ratings
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Tasting Panel
Notes of lavender grace the even-toned and concentrated palate. Ripe plum engages with dark chocolate midway as rich, silky tannins carry the flavors through to the finish of spiced sandalwood.
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James Suckling
Aromas of blackberries, plums, mocha and sweet spices. The palate is full-bodied with firm tannins, densely packed dark fruit and toasted oak. Bold and structured with a warming finish.
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Vinous
Dark and brooding, the 2022 Petite Sirah Tower Road smolders with a rich blend of crushed black cherries and plums complemented by nuances of confectionery spice. Silken depths of ripe red and black fruits wash across the palate, carried by a stream of juicy acidity. The finish is medium in length, with a subtle tug of edgy tannins as a hint of licorice fades slowly.
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.
Paso Robles has made a name for itself as a source of supple, powerful, fruit-driven Central Coast wines. But with eleven smaller sub-AVAs, there is actually quite a bit of diversity to be found in this inland portion of California’s Central Coast.
Just east over the Santa Lucia Mountains from the chilly Pacific Ocean, lie the coolest in the region: Adelaida, Templeton Gap and (Paso Robles) Willow Creek Districts, as well as York Mountain AVA and Santa Margarita Ranch. These all experience more ocean fog, wind and precipitation compared to the rest of the Paso sub-appellations. The San Miguel, (Paso Robles) Estrella, (Paso Robles) Geneso, (Paso Robles) Highlands, El Pomar and Creston Districts, along with San Juan Creek, are the hotter, more western appellations of the greater Paso Robles AVA.
This is mostly red wine country, with Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel standing out as the star performers. Other popular varieties include Merlot, Petite Sirah, Petit Verdot, Syrah, Grenache and Rhône blends, both red and white. There is a fairly uniform tendency here towards wines that are unapologetically bold and opulently fruit-driven, albeit with a surprising amount of acidity thanks to the region’s chilly nighttime temperatures.