Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Nearly off the charts in terms of richness, the 2004 Petite Sirah Peterson Family Vineyard possesses an extraordinary perfume of violets, pepper, blueberries, blackberries, creme de cassis, and graphite. Terrific intensity, huge body, and sweet tannin are found in this profoundly great Petite Sirah. It should age effortlessly for two decades or more.
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Wine Spectator
Bold, ripe, rich and fleshy. Seductive in its own way, showing tiers of wild berry and blackberry, with hints of vanilla and spice. Packs in a wallop of fruit, yet it's remarkably elegant and polished for its size and variety.
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.