Fine clarity of fruit, with coffee, cherry and nicely utilized oak. Intense flavors of blackberry, plum and cedar mark the palate, which displays a full texture. The long, smooth and tangy finish wraps it up nicely. Drinks well now; will be even better after two or three years.
— W.E.
(11/1/2000)
Big, tough, gutsy, fruity, tannic. In other words, Petite Sirah, and classic at that. Shows very ripe, deep and long-lasting flavors of blackberries, blueberries, currants, chocolate, cedar and spices, in a bone-dry, full-bodied red wine. Good now, and should develop over a decade.
— S.H.
(9/1/2010)
Lovely young Cab, with that softly tannic, earthy, dried herb and cherry thing that so distinguishes Alexander Valley. The wine has an elegance and refinement that make it fine now for upscale food, but it should age well and improve for a decade.
— S.H.
(12/1/2006)
Extracted and bold, a big wine with ripe flavors of spiced green apples and sweet pears. Spices are Asian, plus some nutmeg and cinnamon. Dry and rich, with a strong overlay of oak.
— S.H.
(5/1/2003)
The bouquet is different from the flock, featuring pungent grapefruit and a hint of flowers. The flavor is sweet with ripe pineapple, and it finishes slightly woody and buttery. It’s a definite departure from the norm, which helps it out in the long run.
— W.E.
(6/1/2000)
Cedary and savory on the nose, then delivers cherry-berry fruit accented by leather and more cedar. It’s relatively structured for a California Syrah despite not being a heavyweight, so hold it 2–3 years, then drink it over the next five.
— W.E.
(9/1/2005)
Nicely dry and crisp in acidity, with good varietal flavors of lemons, limes, grapefruits, green grass and white pepper. There’s also a lot of feline emission, so if you’re sensitive to that, you won’t like it.
— S.H.
(5/1/2011)
Full bodied and rich, as you’d expect a Petite Sirah rosé would be, this has cherry and sweet toast flavors, with a certain elegance. The winemaker suggests pairing this with sausages.
— S.H.
(10/1/2012)