Warning: This wine is not for the faint of heart. Last time we had a penetratingly pure Napa Petite at this inconceivable price point, it flew off the shelves! That too was from a storied vineyard, as this is grown 1,200 feet above the valley floor with gnarly old vines and deep roots that snack on rocks to thrive. The ruggedness of its vineyard is quite evident in the magnitude of this not so petite Petite.

Opaque purple-colored, with black shadows roaming within as light tries to penetrate. A striking bouquet of lead pencil, game, mineral, blueberry compote, and blackberries define the nose. Focused and elegant with a plush texture, pepper, spicy black cherry, and boysenberry, the palate is that colorful and multilayered. Outstanding depth and grip preside over a lingering finale with easy-going sweet fruits playfully accentuating the finish. The winery chef’s suggestion of tri-tip with a Blackberry-Peppercorn sauce is spot on and we honestly have trouble imagining a better match.

Clif Family Winery’s parent company is the celebrated Clif Bar & Company, the #1 brand of the Forbes Breakaway Brands survey! It’s hard to believe that we have been featuring tens of wonderful wines from Clif Family for over a decade and they just keep getting tastier every vintage! Clif’s founders are passionate biker, and Clif Bar was born in 1990 on a day-long, 175-mile ride. The family is avid supporter of cycling, from sponsoring many championship teams, to races worldwide, to promoting wine tours on bikes.

Here’s what the wine press has to say:

92 Points – Dan Dowson’s Wine Advisor - “Clif Family continues to make consistently tasty red and white wines from their Estate vineyards on Howell Mountain as well as from purchased fruit from Napa Valley and beyond, Winemaker Laura Barrett has been with Clif Family since 2014. I’m a big fan of her winemaking style. The Petite Sirah case in point: not afraid of Napa Valley ripeness yet knows how to pull in the reins when necessary. Textbook, so satisfying Petite showing blueberry sauce, smoked meat, black licorice and cocoa smells and flavors. Bursting with fruit and fine tannins. Very rich and strong, just like we want out Petite Sirahs to be. Very good value!”