Stags' Leap Winery Napa Valley Petite Sirah

93pts James Suckling 

“Lovely aromas of toasted herbs, baked plums, nutmeg and chicory root. Full-bodied with tight tannins. Juicy and succulent red and black fruit on the palate, accented by notes of hot paprika, rosemary and allspice. Complex, but remains approachable. 86% petite sirah, 6% syrah, 5% grenache and 3% mixed Rhone varieties.” - JS

From the Winemaker:

Tasting Notes

The 2019 Petite Sirah is dark, inky, and dense, with layers of bramble berry fruit, touches of earth, and lovely floral tones interwoven with more savory notes of black pepper and cigar box spice, all supported by balanced oak integration. On the palate, ripe saturated flavors of cassis, blackberry preserves, blueberry creme, cherry kirsch, vanilla spice, and dark plum envelope the intense mouthfeel. A silky viscosity with voluminous texture, wrapped in velvety mouth-coating tannins, completes the generous and lengthy finish. Perfectly drinkable upon release, but also has the depth and complexity to age for many years to come.

Winemaking

Continuing the same time-honored techniques that have made Petite Sirah one of our winery’s staples, Winemaker Christophe Paubert practiced simple and traditional methods to show the uniqueness of the Petite Sirah fruit. Avoiding over extraction, the wine went through a relatively short maceration period (9-12 days on average) that included fermentation. The wine aged for 15 months in American oak barrels (19% new), allowing the spiciness of the oak to complement the natural spice character of the varietal. The final blend included small amounts of Syrah, Grenache and other mixed Rhone varietals to bring further complexity to the finished wine.

Vintage

The 2019 harvest started one to two weeks later than previous years, mostly due to February rains, but because the vines were in their winter dormancy, it did not affect the 2019 crop. Spring continued to be wet with some rain during flowering, followed by cool temperatures that allowed the grapes to mature gradually. Most grapes ripened at lower sugars, thanks to the extended, cool growing season, and winemakers were pleased with the full flavors, fresh acidity, and superb balance of the 2019 fruit. The resulting crop showed a modest yield with a slightly more compact structure and extract than in previous years.

Vineyard