Winemaker Notes
Blend: 99% Petite Sirah; 1% Syrah
Professional Ratings
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A wine from Rob Mondavi, this is a spectacular Petite Sirah with exquisite potential. Inky/purple to the rim, its floral notes intermixed with incense, blueberry, blackberry, scorched earth, and pepper are reticent but can be coaxed out of the glass. The wine has huge concentration and extract, massive fruit and tannin, and should literally be forgotten for 7-8 years. It will evolve for 30+ years. These California Petite Sirahs deserve more attention, but of course, those readers who buy them need to cellar them properly for a considerable amount of time. They may well be California’s longest-lived dry red wines.
Everyone knows the warm sun nurtures plants, bringing grapevines to full maturity. But since ancient times, farmers have also depended on the moon, ruler of the tides, whose gravitational force pulls water up from the soil, supporting vines during the cool nights that maintain beautiful balance in wine grapes. The founding partners of Spellbound chose the name and label imagery to suggest the ever-present magical, mystical force of the moon.
Spellbound first made its mark with one of the first varietals to be grown in California, Petite Sirah. This award-winning wine has earned 90 points from The Wine Advocate across multiple vintages. The portfolio also includes a core lineup of Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Rosé, all crafted with grapes from established and emerging regions throughout California, where warm sun and cool, moonlit nights result in expressive, approachable, balanced wines. These wines are true to their roots, expressing ripe varietal character with a style that elevates every occasion - from special events to everyday meals around the family table. Savvy wine shoppers, will appreciate Spellbound for its everyday affordability, consistent quality and fruit-driven wine profile.
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.