Collier Falls Hillside Estate Petite Sirah 2014
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Robert
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Deep purple-black in color, the 2014 Petite Sirah Hillside Estate comes charging out of the glass with exuberant, straightforward notes of crushed black cherries and black berries with touches of Chinese five spice and licorice. Full-bodied, rich and mouth-filling, the generous black fruit has a taut foundation of very firm tannins and crisp acid, finishing very long.
Rating: 90+
Collier Falls is a family-owned vineyard and winery in Healdsburg, California’s beautiful Dry Creek Valley. They make limited quantities of hillside estate red wines from 20 acres of their own sustainably-farmed vineyards. Each year they strive to grow outstanding fruit and make world-class wines in Sonoma County. The wines of Collier Falls express the true flavors of the grapes, and are exceptional examples from this wonderful wine growing region. The name Collier Falls comes from the waterfall below the Zinfandel vineyards, Collier Falls wines are found in the restaurants of legendary chefs like Gordon Ramsay, Wolfgang Puck, Emeril Lagasse, Charlie Palmer, and Thomas Keller.
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.
A multifaceted and highly reputable sub-region of Sonoma, Dry Creek Valley is responsible for a wide range of wine styles—both red and white. One of the smallest AVAs in California, Dry Creek Valley has a winning combination of ideal geography and climate. Fertile, well-drained soils create concentrated varietal character while long, warm days, bookended by cool nights, allow grapes to reach full phenolic ripeness and balance. The warm and welcoming appellation is home to a number of family-owned vineyards and wineries that place a strong emphasis on sustainable farming practices.
Zinfandel reigns supreme here and still produces in a great number of very old vineyards—often 100 years old or older. These old vines create a powerful, voluptuous and sultry wine unlike those of any other region. Sauvignon Blanc, the valley’s signature white grape, also performs exceptionally well. Many other varieties grow comfortably here, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache and Syrah. Petite Sirah is often found in blends with Zinfandel.