Winemaker Notes
A deeply hued wine featuring rich aromatics of plum, coffee, fig, and blackberry. Medium bodied and round with notes of molasses, baking spice, and graphite on the palate. Supple, well-knit tannins frame this wonderfully complex Napa Valley Petite Sirah.
Professional Ratings
-
Jeb Dunnuck
The inky, glass-staining 2021 Petite Sirah Royal Punishers offers up a gorgeous nose of pure blackcurrants, blackberries, peppery herbs, graphite, and darker chocolate. I love its purity, and it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a dense, concentrated mid-palate, ripe tannins, and a great finish.
-
Wine Enthusiast
Black figs, road tar and dark chocolate fill the aroma before ultraripe blackberries, all concentrated and deep, highlight the flavors. The wine is fully tannic but this is matched by the intensity of the fruit. A monumental wine that’s a good bet for extended aging.
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
For a more approachable Biale Petite Sirah, the 2021 Petite Sirah Royal Punishers features blueberries, black cherries and hints of caramel oak (it matured in 35% new French oak) on the nose. Full-bodied on the palate, it adds hints of mocha and dark chocolate, finishing ripe and gently tannic.
-
James Suckling
Rich purple fruit character with sweet spices, chocolate and blue flower undertones. Full-bodied with an opulent, fruit-forward character and velvety tannins. Broad-shouldered and rich with a chalky texture to the finish.
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.