Carol Shelton
2018 Petite Sirah
, Rockpile Reserve
Jack Florence Jr. Vineyard

94 Points, Cellar Selection - Wine Enthusiast

Dark purplish-black with aromas of ripe black plums, packed with black pepper on perfumey blue-blackberry fruit along with Cedary oak spice, dusty cocoa, warm vanilla creme and sweet oak.  This wine has structured tannins for aging.  Dense, chewy and ripe across the palate with a nice mid-palate texture and weight.  Rich and complex, with a long evolving finish.
A gorgeous red to open for the summer and into fall.

Petite Sirah's meaty, smokey flavors complement burgers, sausages, and lamb.
The wine's peppery boldness also pairs well with lamb's delicate, earthy flavors.

The grapes picked from this sought-after Rockpile AVA vineyard are unique.  One of the oldest vineyards planted back in 1998, making it one of the most desirable wines in the valley.

VINEYARD

Jack Florence JR Rockpile Rd Vineyard planted in 1998 within the legendary Rockpile AVA (American Viticultural Area) is one of the most sought-after AVAs.  While Rockpile is one of the newest AVAs in California, receiving status over 20 years ago, the area has been referred to as Rockpile since the 1850's. Located in Northern Sonoma County, at the northwest corner of Dry Creek Valley, the Rockpile AVA encompasses nearly 15,000 acres, of which less than 160 are planted to vineyard. This makes Rockpile one of the smallest AVAs in the United States in terms of acreage planted.

WINEMAKER:  Carol Shelton
VARIETAL:  98.5% Petite Sirah, 1.5% Zinfandel
VINEYARD:  Rockpile Road/Jack Florence Jr. Vineyard
APPELLATION:  Rockpile, Sonoma County
FERMENTATION:  5 days cold soak, total 20 days on skins Fermented in T-bins with 2 different yeasts, punched down by hand two times/day, then 8 days of extended maceration.
AGING:  30 months in French & American barrels.
TA: 0.54 gm/100ml
pH: 3.66
VINTAGE:  2018
ALCOHOL:  14.2%

Tasting Notes  PDF

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