Winemaker Notes
One of the finest wines we make, this organic, old-vine Petite Syrah has serious pedigree. Profound on the nose, with pungent plum, dark brambly fruits, India ink, and pan grillé, reminiscent of young Pauillac. The palate has luscious blackberry, white pepper, and a hint of orange zest alongside a savory layer of herbs, gravel, and anise. Decanting will coax further pleasure if you drink the wine now, or it can age indefinitely
Professional Ratings
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Vinous
The 2021 Petite Syrah Hayne Vineyard shows why this site is so magical. Seamless on the palate, with tremendous fruit purity, the Hayne dazzles from start to finish. Dark red/purplish fruit, mocha, licorice, new leather and spice all meld together. There are no hard or awkward edges in this young Petite, just tons of pure pedigree. What a wine!
Range: 95-97 -
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2021 Petite Syrah Hayne Vineyard comes from vines planted in 1953. Opaque ruby-black in color, this has some rubbery touches on the nose that give way with time to blackcurrant, garrigue, cocoa powder, laurel leaves and charcuterie. The palate is lighter on its feet than the nose leads you to believe, with alluringly floral flavors and soft herbal undertones. It has a surprisingly refined texture, impressive freshness and a very long finish. Offer it 3-5 years in bottle.
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.