2009 Petite Sirah

Tasting Notes

Our dry farmed (no irrigation) Petite Sirah continues to amaze us with its dark, plummy fruit and complexity. No wonder this variety is a rising star in Paso Robles. The inky coloring and full bodied profile of this wine are classic Petite. But the fresh acidity and voluptuous tannins (not too rustic) are all Adelaida Springs Ranch. Try Petite Sirah with grilled meats and spicy foods, or just sip it for pleasure.

Grower Notes

Like our Zinfandel, this wine is grown in a rustic traditional fashion with no irrigation or trellising. The vines are head-trained on a simple iron stake, which makes them look like bushy, miniature trees.  The soil type is a limestone clay which, after tilling out the spring weeds, holds enough moisture to get them through the brutal heat of a Paso Robles summer and encourages a balanced acidity that is rare for Petite Sirah. We like to pick our Petite around 25 or 26 brix before it develops into an overipe, pruney wine, which is a varietal tendency.

Technical Notes

• Alcohol: 14.5%
• pH: 3.95
• TA: .52 g/100 ml
• Aging: 22 months in barrel
• Barrels: 2 months 100% new French Oak
• Cases: 49
• Winemaker: Shannon Gustafson