Two of the most versatile red varietals we grow here at Preston combine to make this brilliant blend. These are some of the more venerable blocks of vines we have on the property and they show oodles of character and stature as they reach the senior portion of their lives. The 2012 vintage has a bouquet of plums, peppercorn, blackberry, and an underlying smoked meat scent that implies this bottle wants to share a table with some Preston Lamb. Moderate tannins and a sound structure will support this vintage for 5-10 years of bottle aging.

Proprietor Lou Preston’s Notes This has been a signature wine of Preston for years heralded by our trademarking the name in the early 1980’s. I looked up my description of the first vintage, 1982, and note that my comment “drinkable now (on release), will be incredible in 4 to 8 years” is just as true today. The lyrical name (que sera sera?) has twisted with the blends, usually beginning with “Syrah” and sometimes with “Sirah,” depending on which grape is dominant. It’s meant to follow a northern Rhône prototype where Syrah is king but Petite Sirah is rarely acknowledged. We may be Francophiles but we’re not French, so we follow our own muse and use a soupçon of big Petite to tease out one more textural notch in the gamey goodness of our oh-so-French Syrah.