Petite Sirah.
The winemaker’s problem child.
Thin skinned, sensitive to sunburn and prone to set a big crop. If everything goes right during the growing season, it's susceptible to botrytis and black rot during late summer. Assuming the vines have been coached along to a perfect harvest the winemaker has then to deal with the potential of a wine with enough tannins to make the back of your jaw hurt.
With that being said, why you may ask, am I growing and making Petite Sirah in the heart of the Napa Valley?
You're first clue; my college major wasn't business! In my opinion, the world doesn't need yet another Napa Valley Cab!
So here I am creating a balanced petite Sirah for the 2014 vintage . Balanced Petite Sirah, is that an oxymoron? Not necessarily. Of course it involves more work from the winemaker and a bag of tricks (in my case, natural and organic) which include press cycles, lees stirring, French oak and a few secrets I won’t divulge (other winemakers might be reading this).
If you have ever had a truly sublime Petite, you know what keeps me going.
For a kinder gentler Petite Sirah, try to get a hold of a bottle of 2011 Tofanelli Estate Petite Sirah...