2019 Petite Sirah, Todd Brothers Ranch

History

The Todd Brothers Ranch, located outside of the town of Geyserville in the Alexander Valley, is an ideal site to grow intense, substantial Petite Sirah.  The bright red rocky soil and the steep slopes of the vineyard make the vines struggle to survive, and the resulting grapes are jet-black and tiny. In 2019, the vineyard produced a very intense and surprisingly “Old World” style of Petite Sirah, with flavors of blackberry and chocolate mixed with earthy, leathery overtones reminiscent of what some Northern Rhone Valley wines from France tasted like decades ago.

Production

In 2019, we were able to harvest the grapes early enough that we escaped the smoke that accompanied the fires that erupted in the later parts of the harvest. We picked the grapes into ½ ton bins and sorted on a conveyor belt to pick out any less-than-perfect clusters on their way to the crusher. Durning fermentation, we used  the yeasts on the surface of the grapes to gently ferment the grape must. This native yeast method maximizes flavor, color, and complexity from the grapes. 

The wine is very intense, dark, and complex, with Herbs de Provence and fresh earth characteristics that you might find in some wines from the Rhone Valley. Structured and slightly tannic, this wine will improve over 10 or more years and last for over 25 years in the cellar. 

Production: 72 cases

Tasting Notes