Nose
The initial freshly smashed olallieberry and white pepper scents yield to an underlying layer of warm vanilla that beckons the sip.
Palate
The densely textured and generous palate conjures images of dark, ripe fruits with toasted cedar, damp stone and forest floor. This wine has the tell-tale color and plentiful tannic structure of a 100% Petite Sirah.
Growing Conditions
67% Domenico Estate Vineyards
The Domenico Estate Vineyard is comprised of nearly 120 acres planted in five blocks, situated around the winery to the north, west and south. The otherwise flat basin of the Salinas valley is crossed by meandering dry river beds with clay loam soil deposited by the course of the Estrella River. The cool, damp air off the Pacific Ocean that rushes through the Templeton Gap dissipates just as it approaches the broadly rolling plains at the western border of the Estrella district, resulting in rainfall at the low end of the range for Paso Robles. The open exposure as the sun tracks wide over the valley creates a vast diurnal swing in temperature—up to 50 degrees during the growing season. Our moderate winters and rainless, though often foggy, summers are features of a Mediterranean climate shared by wine regions of Southern Italy, Greece, and the Southern Rhone Valley.
- 88.60 acres under vine
- Planted in 1981
- Predominantly East to West
- Predominantly 10 x 6 row planting
- Drip Irrigation
- Clay Loam Soil
- Undulating Terrain
- Hand and Machine Harvested
33% Ranchita Vista Estate Vineyards
Bottling
September 22, 2020
Winemaking
To further concentrate these robust flavors, a small saignée was pulled prior to fermentation. Petite Sirah is naturally a bold variety that we allowed to speak for itself by using only 10% new French oak.
Aging
23 months in 10% new French oak
Food Pairing
Pappardelle with lamb ragu.
