Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The black/purple 2007 Petite Sirah may well be around in 50-60 years, when most of us will be pushing up daisies. In fact, it probably needs to be forgotten for 8-10 years. A massive, pedal-to-the-metal Petite Sirah that looks like pen ink, the wine displays notes of creosote, pepper, spice box, blackberry, and blueberry, with hints of incense and floral undertones. It is dense and almost looks like syrup being poured into a glass. It is obviously not for everybody, as it is certainly a controversial New World wine, but these wines will become more and more civilized as they age, and I wouldn’t be surprised if this one is spoken of with reverence 40-50 years from 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.