92 points from Wine Spectator – “Vivid blueberry, licorice and blackberry aromatics leap out of the glass, but on the palate the flavors are dense and delicious, with touches of spice and vanillin that give this a profile of cobbler à la mode.”

90 points from Wine Enthusiast – “This is a big, hearty Petite Sirah, showing class, elegance and power. Dry and softly tannic, it has ripe flavors of blackberry, currant, bacon and cedar, sprinkled with black pepper.”

93+ points at the 2012 Dark & Delicious Petite Sirah event

This year’s vintage is intense, rich and structured. The wine opens up with aromas of roasted coffee, black licorice and tar, and a few minutes of air releases sweet, distinct blackberry aromas.

This is a wine of weight and balance. The flavors are intense with extract of black currants and blackberry concentrate. A dusting of nutmeg and cracked peppercorns adds savory components while ample chewy tannin adds to the power and texture of the wine. The wine is almost purple-black in color. Thirty minutes of decanting will enhance the dark berry flavors. This blockbuster wine will go best with hearty flavors, like grilled and roasted meats, bitter vegetables, strong cheeses and anything with lots of garlic.

Delicious today, this wine will age well for several years.

Harvest Notes: We harvested by hand in the cool early morning of October 6, 2009. The growing season was lovely, with a nicely warm and mild springtime that brought only occasional and light winds. The heat of the spring and early summer, which ranged from the upper 60s to low 80s, was wonderfully typical. Summer and the early fall continued to produce temperatures ranging from the 90s back down to the low 80s, with a few characteristic stretches of triple digits. We believe the ’09 will be an outstanding vintage.