2017 Napa Valley "Palisades Vineyard" Petite Sirah
100% Petite Sirah
First, the bad news. We no longer get fruit from two blocks, only one, the original block we started with in 2007. As a result, production of this wine has dropped by nearly two-thirds. The good news? The wine is as fabulous as ever! Picked September 2nd, we found the fruit less tannic in this vintage. As a result, total maceration time was cut from the usual 45 to 50 days to a mere 34 days. Given the concentration of this wine, it was aged in a bit more new French oak, 28% to be exact, than we typically use for our wines. Bottled unfined and unfiltered.
Tasting Note:
I always struggle to write a Palisades Pet tasting note as the wine is just so damn consistent. Therefore, at the risk of repeating myself... Opaque black-purple in color. A veritable cornucopia of black and blue berry fruits spills from the glass. Blackberry, blueberry, mulberry, loganberry, huckleberry... You name it! Intensely concentrated and full-bodied but remarkably well-balanced, displaying a level of refinement not often found in this variety. I like Petite Sirah young, finding that it pairs very well with a thick steak off the grill or with braised beef short ribs, but this will age well. Drink from 2022 through 2032. (MRO - 01/10/19)