2011 High Valley Vineyard Petite Sirah

Community Tasting Notes (8) Avg Score: 89.4 points

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  3/11/2020 - Odedis.Wine.reviews Likes this wine: 92 Points

  Dark ruby in color with a short and cloudy, reddish rim.
  
  Fruity nose of blackberries, cooked cherries, dried figs, licorice, oak, vanilla, vinaigrette, tobacco leaf, cocoa, coffee, black pepper, dark chocolates and spices.
  
  Full bodied and smooth with medium acidity and long legs.
  
  Dry and fruity on the palate with blackberries, black cherries, raisins, dried figs, tobacco, wood, vanilla, cloves, coffee, chocolates, cola, light vinaigrette, peppercorn and spices.
  
  Medium finish with fine grained tannins and chocolates.
  
  This is a delicious 9 year old Petite Sirah from Lake County. Very tasty with a lot of chocolate notes. Nicely balanced with nice complexity.
  
  Good right out of the bottle, and did not need much to open up. Peaking now.
  
  Thank you Elvira for sharing.
  
  Not from a great vintage, but this is showing very nicely now. Tasty, rich and delicious.
  
  14.5% alcohol by volume.
  
  92 points.
  
  $25 (current vintage).

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  9/21/2018 - Eslotnick.es@gmail.com wrote: 89 Points

  Deep intense garnet color and strong berry nose. Tannin mostly gone but nicely balanced and drinkable wine....

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  6/10/2018 - Eslotnick.es@gmail.com Likes this wine: 90 Points

  Really dark, dense BIG Syrah. Could have lasted beyond our 6/18 drinking date. Sigh...

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  10/22/2016 - George T Likes this wine: 90 Points

  Really enjoyed the wine. complex aromas like black peppercorns, grilled beef, licorice and blackberries, similarly layered flavors. This is a Full bodied and bold, finishes with great polish.

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  2/17/2016 - NapaWinePonce Likes this wine: 87 Points

  Dark, nearly opaque blackish purple-magenta demonstrate why the varietal is used for its coloration in blending.
  
  Not ready to drink upon opening. La Vinturi did little but amplify the unpleasantries developed from years in bottle.
  
  After an hour, an entirely different wine emerges.
  
  Effusive minerality carried by the hot, heady bouquet of complex fruit indicates perfectly ripe grapes, thorough maceration, and pedigree vineyard site.
  
  The Napa is leaking over the border into Lake County's High Valley AVA. That's a good thing.
  
  This is the first wine (out of 100s or 1000s) I've tried presenting a stark contrast when smelled with the right vs left nostril. I think that means something! Or it could just be allergies.
  
  Attack is well balanced, with rounded tannins nicely complementing superbly integrated fruit, yeast, and smoke. This one must have been a monster in its youth!
  
  Midpalate emphasizes fluid mouthfeel. This is not a viscous wine. To use beer terms, it's more of a quaffable session Saison or Pilsner than a thick, overbearing Russian Imperial. I love both; preference depends on the weather, season, and event.
  
  Some alcohol tingles the nose if you smack it around a bit. This is fine, a welcome consequence of the process that resulted in almost all the Petite Sirah's sugar being snarfed by happy little yeasts.
  
  I'm shocked to admit this, but I'm actually curious how it would have been if left a very tiny bit sweeter. Would the understated, albeit gorgeous, fruit be less elusive?
  
  Finish delivers the complexity and nuance for which I shelled out my $20. Smacking and drooling, my palate chases the sumptuous buffet of delicious flavors on offer.
  
  No sulfur headache. No tannin dizziness. Just pure delight.
  
  Next time, will pair with Dos Rio single origin chocolate. Or portobello tempura. Or the latter, followed by the former.

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