Petite Sirah fans rejoice! We have a dark, inky, fragrant and delicious Petite for you, today. This estate grown and bottled wine was made by our friend, Ph.D winemaker Christine Barbe. Christine earned her advanced degree from the Bordeaux Institute of Enology before going on to make wines at Château Carbonnieux and Château La Louvière.

Christine’s Coquerel 2010 La Petite Sirah Napa Valley is scrumptious!

The Calistoga AVA, which sits at the northern end of the Napa Valley, is a haven of wonderful Petite Sirah producers. Kenefik (who grows for Caymus and others), Summers, T-Vine and Robert Biale all make award-winning Petite here. While the volcanic soils of the region help a great deal, it is Coquerel’s imported winemaker Christine Barbe, from Bordeaux, France, that shows off her skilled hand with today’s wine.

I offer this wine to you with my very bold recommendation. If you a fan of Petite Sirah, this wine will have you grinning ear to ear - through purple teeth.