The 2008 Petite Sirah, Thompson Vineyard
A very big wine! In its sixth vintage, this wine maintains incredible darkness, power, and purity of fruit. This wine has more tannin and is higher in acid than the previous vintage. It has gobs of cherry-berry-dry and black fruit flavors, spice and licorice aromas, and a stick-to-your-lips quality. Four new American, plus 8 neutral barrels were used. (252 cases produced)
• This wine is 100% fruit from David Thompson’s ranch in Los Alamos. It is a warmer, sandy-loam site which is farmed with distinction.
• Block 1 (the newer block) Petite Sirah harvested October 29th at 25.4 brix and 3.45 pH.
• Block 2 (the older block) Petite Sirah harvested October 29th at 25.0 brix and 3.4 pH.
• The fruit was stemmed but not crushed. Intact, whole berries were placed in small bin boxes for fermentation.
• Fermented on the skins for 14 days after a 48 hour cold soak.
• RC212, D254, and W.S. yeast used.
• Four new American Oak, and eight older barrels were used .
• Wine was racked in mid July, and again before bottling.
• Went through ML fermentation, completing in January.
• Sterile Filtered.
• Spicy and toasty aromas with dense, dark fruit on the taste. Loads of tannin – a HUGE wine..
• Bottled in September 2009