2012 Petite Sirah
Petite Sirah is an Old World Vine planted on the ranch in 1999. Strong, sturdy and long-lasting vines produce a flavor both inviting and honest. The smooth tannins of the Petite Sirah grape result in earthy tones and a structured richness layered with dark blueberry and blackberry fruit. Full-bodied and juicy, this wine is built to age. Wine connoisseurs and casual wine drinkers alike will appreciate this amazing varietal as much as its cult followers!
Awards: GOLD Medal San Francisco Chronicle International Wine Competition, Double Gold and Best of Class-El Dorado Co Fair, Gold Medal-Amador County Fair. 92 points Wine Enthusiast.
Darrel Corti, Corti Brothers Grocers quoted” I don’t have anything like this in my store. This is a great wine.”
Virginie Boone, Wine Enthusiast quotes: “Dark and inky, built to age!”
Food Pairings: Petite Sirah wine pairs exceptionally well with wild game and your favorite BBQ selections. It will lift the black pepper flavor of barbecued meats or burgers and complement the silkiness of soft cheeses like brie and camembert.
Viticulture and Winemaking
Variety: Our Petite Sirah, planted in 1999 using single vineyard blocks, is a structured, inky wine. A cross between Duriff and Peloursin, this ancient variety of grapes originates from the Middle East.
History: Petite Sirah, originally called Durif, was created by a French botanist named Francois Durif in Montpellier, France around 1880. The grape was created by crossing between the Syrah grape and the even rarer Peloursin grape. Imported to America by Charles McIver several years later, it got its new name: Petite Sirah.
Background: The Petite Sirah (anything but petite) is famous for its stunningly deep color and distinct flavors of blueberry, blackberry, dark cherry and black pepper. Petite Sirah is an exceptionally rare grape with less than 10,000 planted acres worldwide. Most of the vineyards that produce this wine are found in California.
Region: Fair Play, El Dorado County, Sierra Foothills
Vintage: 2012
Production: 225 cases
Fermentation: Our 2012 Petite Sirah grapes were macerated for 7 days on the skins, gently pressed, then allowed to complete primary and secondary fermentation in New French Oak barrels. The fermented Petite Sirah is barrel-aged another 16 months and bottle-aged 6 years prior to release.
Our 2012 Estate Petite Sirah won Gold at SF Chronicle in a class of over 700 wines where only 2 Golds were awarded.
Winemakers Notes: Winemakers Notes: These vines are head-trained and spur pruned, balancing the plant and giving strength to the clusters. This 2-acre vineyard consistently produces one of the top Petite Sirah’s in all of California. 2012 was no exception; the grapes ripened to perfection and produced a full-bodied and elegantly structured wine.