This is a great example of Petite Sirah. The terroir of Alexander valley is dead on in this big wonderful mouth-filling workhorse of a wine. I should probably take that back and call the wine a thoroughbred but I stand fast on my original proclamation. My excitement about this wine is genuine. Bold rich fruit and spice aromas fill the air on the first swirl, bramble and blackberry then leathery wisps of cedar and cigar tobacco leaves drying in the sunshine. On the palate, it spreads and conquers with a lingering finish that is almost obscene to talk about. This wine is intense and it will almost devour any culinary pairing; big flavors need not be shy. Smoked pork butt stood up to the wine and it was a perfect pairing with smoked meats; 20-hour smoked Boston butt Memphis dry rubbed and North Carolina sauced. That is a pairing just in time for the summertime. Don’t forget the coleslaw.

Rating: 91 | $22 | 14.2% ABV

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