Winemaker Notes
The color is a striking magenta-purple with a black core. The wine is especially aromatic in this cool, temperate year with oodles of plum, fig, blackberry coulis, anise, cracked pepper and clove notes. These scents are echoed on the palate with intensity and depth, offering layers of flavor and very lithe tannins for Petite Sirah, creating an elegant, yet powerful finish with notes of purple fruit and dark chocolate.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
There are 200 cases of the 2018 Petite Sirah Alfred Frediani Vineyard Old Vines, which comes from vines planted in 1939 and spent 19 months in 37% new oak. Violet-tinged blue fruits, bouquet garni, and some rocky, earthy mineral-notes emerge from this medium to full-bodied red, which has building tannins, a good spine of acidity, and outstanding length. It’s going to evolve positively for 3-5 years and then drink nicely for at least a decade.
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James Suckling
Strawberries, dark cherries, toasted bread and peppercorns on the nose. It’s medium-bodied with firm, chewy tannins and fresh acidity. Velvety, with fragrant, chocolatey character and a flavorful finish. Drink from 2022.
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.