The wine is deep purple of course, being 100% Petite Sirah. It is surprisingly aromatic at this point, with dense blueberry, black raspberry, black plums, crushed rocks, earth and baking spice. We only used neutral oak barrels so there’s no real oak-y character, but the roundness and supple mouthfeel that comes from extended barrel aging is immediately apparent.

In the mouth the wine is full and powerfully fruity; dense, but not heavy. The red earth is apparent, and gives the wine a bit of a lift. The acid is bright and balanced and the finish is long.

Not surprisingly, this wine could age 20 or 25 years, but who’s going to do that? Not us….