vinification notes: Petite sirah fruit was destemmed and crushed, and fermentation was carried out in closed-top tanks, with pumpovers performed twice daily. 10% of the lot was whole-cluster fermented. The wine was pressed off before dryness to avoid extracting too much tannin from the thick petite sirah skins. Fermentation was completed, and the wine was barreled down and aged in a combination of French and American oak for 14 months.

sensory notes: Though this is a deceptively light and graceful take on petite sirah, it is every bit as alluring as you would expect from this delicious grape. The texture is velvety and mouthfilling and the flavors are lush, with layers of sweet blueberry cobbler, brambly underbrush and dried rose petal all wrapped around solid tannins.

vineyard notes: One of the Alexander Valley’s defining vineyards, Big River Ranch possesses ideal red gravelly loam soils and a 360-degree sun exposure that contribute to perfect ripeness. At the same time, the unique cooling influence of the Russian River extends hangtime and preserves acidity, adding depth and complexity to the coveted fruit coming off our petite sirah vines.