Winemaker Notes
The 2019 vintage has a deep purple color with a magenta hue. The aromas feature ripe concentrated dark fruits including cassis, boysenberry and black raspberry. Aged in 100% new French Oak, the bouquet delivers scents of mocha, malt, and dark chocolate. On the palate, supple savory flavors of concentrated black fruits meld with those of mocha and sweet vanilla laden toasted oak. The ripe grapes that 2019 vintage provided has translated into a wine with a viscosity that coats the mouth with a luscious creamy texture. We have gone to great lengths to keep the tannins in check and the result is a full satisfying finish. Most folks pair Petite Sirah with big hearty stews and braised meats. This is fine, but I have no qualms about enjoying this wine by itself, often as a liquid dessert.
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.
The vineyards just inland from the Sacramento River Delta, along the deep banks of the Sacramento River, comprise the Clarksburg AVA. The River Delta channels in cold air and fog from the Pacific Ocean creating a cooling effect in this area. Warm summer days quickly change to chilly evenings and make a great environment for grape growing. While a range of grape varieties grow here, Chenin blanc stands out the most, distinguishing itself in the appellation.
The Clarksburg Wine Growers and Vintners Association, made up of nearly 50 grower members and over a dozen wineries, has been working since the late 1980s to promote the high quality wine of its region.