Winemaker Notes
The nose reveals a melange of black raspberry, tree-ripened Santa Rosa plum, and cigar tobacco. Medium-plus to full-bodied, the wine unfolds with layers of black cherry preserves, vanilla, and hints of garrigue framed by a careful selection of Fusion barrel oak, savory notes imparted by the American oak, Hungarian oak elevates Petite Sirah’s spice, and the French oak affords the wine a smooth and luxurious vanilla-scented finish.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Always among my favorite wines from Girard, the 2021 Petite Sirah features its usual incredible color—impenetrable black-purple. Blueberries and baking spices appear on the nose, while the palate is full-bodied, tannic and sturdy, with some hints of mocha on the long, dusty finish. The assemblage is 81% Petite Sirah, 17% Zinfandel and 2% Mixed Blacks, with maturation identical to the Zinfandel (14 months in barrels made of American, French and Hungarian oak, 40% new).
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James Suckling
A juicy and grapey petit sirah with black berry, light white pepper and cement character. Medium body. Dusty textured mouthfeel. Drink now.
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.