Picetti Vineyard: Dry Creek Valley has an established reputation for growing outstanding Zin and Petite Sirah. The grapes for this wine are from Piccetti Vineyard, situated on the North end of Dry Creek Valley, about 800 feet above the valley. The soil of this vineyard is decomposed rock and brick red Manzanita type soils. These are usually very well suited for low pH Petite and Zins, wines with deep color and solid structure.
The Vintage: This was one of the most dramatic vintages in 70 years. The summer of 2010 was very cool, with an almost Oregon-like weather pattern. We were surprised by a freak heat wave at the end of August and late rain that (in some vineyards) destroyed almost the entire crop. At the end, the weather was fine and what was left of our grapes produced very dark, intensely fruity wines with elevated acidity, most likely well suited for long aging.
Winemaking: The fruit was handled in the most gentle way possible, hand sorted and fermented in small open top fermentors with minimal hand punch-downs per day. As usual, the most effort was in extacting as litlle as possible of the massive tannins for which Petite is known. The malolactic fermentation was done in barrels; aged in 55% new European oak barrels for about 11 months.
Winemaker’s Tasting Notes: The shortest way to describe the wine would be “dark and delicious” undoubtedly Petite Sirah in its core but with refined and balanced tannin and—surprising for Petite—softness. Loads of blueberry and blackberry on the nose followed by toasty oak, cinnamon, brown sugar and dark molasses. The mouth feel is big and juicy, extracted but not heavy, finishing with fresh acidity and sense of balance. Cheers!
Harvest Date: October 11, 2010
Blend: 90% Petite Sirah, 10% Zinfandel
Barrel Aging: 11 months
Alcohol: 14.9%
ta: 0.66g/100ml
pH: 3.79
Bottling: Sept. 1, 2011
Production: 220 cases