Winemaker Notes
The 2019 Petite Sirah has a complex nose of ripe fruit, hints of coriander seed, white pepper, mixed herbs, toasted bread and licorice. The substantial mid- palate impresses with sweet purple plum, black tea, baked cherry and huckleberry. The finish offers pie crust and oak spice with the tannins developing into a pleasant textural polish.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Dark and brooding, this 100% varietal wine offers notes of iron, meat and garrigue. Substantial tannin weight adds to the full-bodied intensity, with rich, lingering layers of black plum and fig
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Wine Spectator
A lively red, with briary wild berry, licorice and fruitcake spice flavors that linger on the snappy finish.
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 standout region for its decidedly Californian take on Burgundian varieties, the Russian River Valley is named for the eponymous river that flows through it. While there are warm pockets of the AVA, it is mostly a cool-climate growing region thanks to breezes and fog from the nearby Pacific Ocean.
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir reign supreme in Russian River, with the best examples demonstrating a unique combination of richness and restraint. The cool weather makes Russian River an ideal AVA for sparkling wine production, utilizing the aforementioned varieties. Zinfandel also performs exceptionally well here. Within the Russian River Valley lie the smaller appellations of Chalk Hill and Green Valley. The former, farther from the ocean, is relatively warm, with a focus on red and white Bordeaux varieties. The latter is the coolest, foggiest parcel of the Russian River Valley and is responsible for outstanding Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.