Winemaker Notes
The 2024 vintage has a deep purple color, not quite inky but getting close. Savory aromas of ripe dark fruits; marionberry and briary blackberry have married with a bouquet of mocha, caramel, and dark chocolate to create an enticing invitation. The flavors are both creamy and succulent with loads of black currant and well-seasoned oak. The fully integrated tannins express themselves as a viscous mouth coating texture that leads to a lingering finish that seems infinite. While the tannins are in check, a few years in the cellar will add an additional dimension of complexity to the wine. Meanwhile, the fruit will be sustained by the wine’s solid acidity until this is accomplished.
Pair with grilled steaks, roast beef, braised red meats and stews are the order of the day for this wine. It goes well with a juicy hamburger too.
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.