Wine Article

Winemaker's Notes: The 2005 Petite Sirah, Thompson Vineyard - There is nothing petite about this wine. Like its sister, Thompson Vineyard Syrah, it has incredible darkness, power, and purity of fruit. But this is a MUCH BIGGER wine than syrah. It has gobs of cherry-berry-red and black fruit flavors, spice and licorice aromas, and a stick-to-your-lips quality . Two new French and two new American, plus 8 neutral barrels were used. (392 cases produced) Thompson Vineyard is a steep, south-facing vineyard in Los Alamos, California. Its soil is sandy and well drained. This vineyard consistently produces the best fruit we work with. It gets ripe, dark, and tannic.

• This wine is 100% Petite Sirah fruit from the David Thompson’s ranch in Los Alamos. It is a warmer, sandy-loam site which is farmed with distinction.
• Harvested November 3rd [2005] at 26.5 brix and 3.45 pH.
• The fruit was stemmed but not crushed. Intact, whole berries were placed in small bin boxes for fermentation.
• Fermented on the skins for 14 days after a 48 hour cold soak.
• RC212, D254, and W.S. yeast used.
• Two new French, two new American, and six older French barrels were used
• Wine was racked in July [2006], and again before bottling.
• Went through ML fermentation, completing in January [2006?].
• Unfined and lightly filtered.
• Spicy and toasty aromas with dense, dark fruit on the taste. Loads of tannin – a HUGE wine