Saracina Petite Sirah 2005

Vintage and Release Information

Mendocino County 2005
Released September 1, 2008
Production of 268 cases

Varietal Composition

91% petite sirah, 9% zinfandel

Technical Data

14.9% alcohol by volume
0.57 gm/100 ml titratable acidity
pH 3.78
Bottled May 18, 2007

Vineyards and Harvest

The petite sirah was sourced from two vineyards, an old-vine block in the McDowell Valley planted in 1948, and a younger, steep hillside block in the Ukiah Valley.  In both of these vineyards, berry and cluster size were very small and crop levels were well below two tons per acre, giving great concentration and depth to the finished wine.  The zinfandel was sourced from an old-vine, head-pruned vineyard in Redwood Valley.  With fruit of this quality, winemaking becomes almost an afterthought.

Winemaking and Cooperage

The grapes were hand-picked at full maturity, de-stemmed and gently crushed into fermenters.  The must soaked at cool temperature for four to seven days, at which point native yeast fermentation began.  During fermentation we used gentle, aerative pumpovers to keep the skins in contact with the juice.  Post-fermentation maceration with heat followed for approximately one week.  The wine was aged in Burgundian oak (50% new) for 18 months, which included six months of native malolactic fermentation.  The wine was assembled and bottled without filtration.

Winemaker

Alex MacGregor

Consulting Winemaker

David Ramey

Winemaker's Comments

Our 2005 Petite Sirah exhibits an inky blue/black color and vivid raspberry, blackberry and floral notes.  It is a big wine but surprisingly civilized and supple on the palate.  The wine is accessible now but is worthy of holding for a generation.