Optima Dry Creek Valley Petite Sirah
Optima Dry Creek Valley Petite Sirah
Appellation Dry Creek Valley
Blend 98% Petite Sirah 2% Zinfandel
Alcohol 14.9%
Barrel Aging 15 months
Residual Sugar NONE
Description
Our Dry Creek Valley Petite Sirah is a dense, ripe, full-flavored rendition of one of Sonoma County's most scarce and special red wine grapes. Its blackberry and blueberry aromas are balanced by rich sweet oak and vanilla. The intense berry fruit is integrated into a lush background of youthful tannins, and the flavors blend together in a rich, broad, big mouth filling finish. The wine is produced from fruit grown on the western side of Dry Creek Valley, 200 feet above the valley floor. This appellation has a diversity of microclimates and soil variations, which enables it to accommodate many different grape varietals. Petite Sirah ripens beautifully in the warm northern section of the region and gathers much complexity due to the soil composition. Hand harvested in October. The fruit is gently crushed and destemmed, and fermented 10 days to dryness in small one ton fermenters. Following pressing, this wine was clarified naturally by settling, and then moved to small oak cooperage where it aged for 15 months. We used a blend of new and one year old French Oak barrels to both enhance and complement the wonderful berry aromas.