Winemaker Notes
The characteristic Clarksburg Petite Sirah varietal that compromises the majority of this wine displays dark aromas of wild blueberry, black licorice and purple plum. 80% of the wine was aged on French oak promoting notes of caramelized vanilla bean. The remainder of the oak is Hungarian, which enhances characteristic notes of gaminess such as mushroom and tobacco leaf. This deeply expressive wine fills the palate with flavors of blackberry jam and dried cherry, mingling effortlessly with cinnamon bark and molasses. The mouth-coating tannins add structure and complexity to this full-bodied Petite Sirah, while the 6% Pinot Noir adds a layer of plush, round and supple flavors. This wine pairs nicely with olive tapenade on grilled bread, rack of lamb marinated with aromatic herbs or even dark chocolate lava cake.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
In a field of sometimes tough wines, this one is remarkably approachable, smooth and delicious, not to mention a great value. Fermented by native yeast, it has wonderful spicy, plummy aromas, a generous and melting texture, and deep but mellow plum, prune and milk-chocolate flavors.
Best Buy -
Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
Some wines just seem to nail it year after year and in the realm of powerful and mouthfilling wines, the 2013 The Crusher Petite Sirah has certainly kept up its end of the bargain. Deep black and purple in color; bold ripe, grapey aromas, with some floral notes, rich and omnipresent; medium bodied, rounded and firm on the palate; dry, medium acidity, well balanced; rich, bold and grapey in the flavors, a hint of bacon and smoke, too; long finish, steady fruit in the aftertaste; calls for grilled short ribs of beef. (Tasted: October 29, 2015, San Francisco, CA)
With its deep color, firm tannins and bold flavors, there is nothing petite about Petite Sirah. The variety, originally known as Durif in the Rhône, took on its more popular moniker after being imported to California in the early 1880s. Quintessentially recognized today as a grape of the Golden State, Petite Sirah works well blended with Zinfandel and finds success as a single varietal wine in the state’s warmer districts. Somm Secret—Petite Sirah is not a smaller version of Syrah but it is an offspring of Syrah and the now nearly extinct French Alpine variety called Peloursin.
The vineyards just inland from the Sacramento River Delta, along the deep banks of the Sacramento River, comprise the Clarksburg AVA. The River Delta channels in cold air and fog from the Pacific Ocean creating a cooling effect in this area. Warm summer days quickly change to chilly evenings and make a great environment for grape growing. While a range of grape varieties grow here, Chenin blanc stands out the most, distinguishing itself in the appellation.
The Clarksburg Wine Growers and Vintners Association, made up of nearly 50 grower members and over a dozen wineries, has been working since the late 1980s to promote the high quality wine of its region.