2007 Yorkville Highlands Petite Sirah
100% Petite Sirah
While the days in Yorkville Highlands can be quite warm, the nights can be equally cool. Growing late-ripening, heat-loving Petite Sirah in this viticultural area requires some aggressive farming and sometimes, a wee bit of luck. When we decided early in the growing season of 2007 to go to one cluster per shoot and remove all wings from remaining clusters, we had no idea it would be raining for 10 days straight in mid-October. But the decision proved highly fortuitous. As the first round of showers arrived, the tiny crop of perfectly ripe fruit was off the vines and tucked safely away in tank. Phew! Twenty-eight percent new French oak. Bottled unfined and unfiltered.
Tasting Note:
Black ruby-purple. A knockout nose of black and blue fruits is highlighted by suggestions of black pepper, wild herbs, coffee bean, and raw beef. Medium-full to full-bodied with an explosion of berry fruit on the palate. A more elegant version than the 2006 but no less concentrated or flavorful. Drinkable now (if you’re not tannin adverse), this wine should age wonderfully for several decades. (MRO – 07/17/09)