2019 Petite Sirah, Louvau Vineyard

History
The Louvau Vineyard has been a mainstay of Dashe Cellars lineup of wines since we started making wines from this vineyard in 2001. The vineyard’s older Petite Sirah grapes have always been some of our favorite grapes on the property. In recent years, we’ve refined our techniques to make a balanced, richly-textured wine without the intense tannins commonly associated with this varietal. Our Petite Sirah has all of the deep color and intensity for which Petite Sirah is justly famous, but with a roundness and richness that makes it extremely pleasant to drink.
Jet-black in color, with flavors of cassis, blackberry, plum, and black pepper spice, this is one of the most approachable Petite Sirahs we make. The wine has great velvety mouthfeel and is ideal for hearty dishes and grilled meats.
Production
The 2019 vintage was a difficult vintage, but luckily we were able to harvest the Petite Sirah fruit early, before smoke from fires affected Sonoma County. We were able to pick and sort the fruit, and gently crush into small fermentation vessels. The grapes were fermented using only the natural yeast population on the surface of the grapes, and we pressed the grapes before they reached dryness, to limit the amount of tannin in the wine. We kept the wine in barrel for 18 months to gain complexity and to soften the wine.
Production: 74 cases
Tasting Notes
Color: | Black-Purple |
Aromas: | Blackberry, cassis, earth, black pepper, chocolate |
Taste: | Blackberry, black current, cranberry, and chocolate on entry. Structured and tannic, but with a velvety texture. Finishes with a slight tannic and acid bite, together with lots of black fruit and spice, and a luscious finish that persists for many minutes. |