A fabulous wine, the 2012 Petite Sirah was co-fermented with 1% Viognier, and includes 12% Syrah, 8% Grenache and 2% Carignan in the blend. Beautiful aromas of lavender, acacia flowers, blueberries, black raspberries, licorice and graphite emerge from this full-bodied, rich Petite Sirah. While approachable because of the vintage’s sweet tannins, it will age easily for 15-20 years.

The winery’s larger bottling of the variety, one it has mastered for decades, this wine is a mix of baked plum and rustic leather notes. It’s softly tannic, with pronounced jolts of tobacco and black pepper. With small amounts of other Rhone varieties, from Syrah to Viognier, it meanders to the finish, with a distinct trace of minerality.