2009 Bell Petite Sirah

There is nothing petite about Petite Sirah. This black grape, grown throughout the warmer regions of California, produces teeth-staining, brawny wines with dark berry and plum fruit, a grind of spice (usually black pepper) and sturdy tannins. Once considered a rustic wine, California Petite Sirah has become softer and more polished in recent years, as winemakers have learned to tame the tannins and astringency with various techniques in the vineyard and cellar. Petite Sirah -- intentionally misspelled "Petite Syrah" by some producers -- is the same as Durif, a workhorsegrape of southern France. Petite Sirah is also related to "regular" Syrah; Syrah is Petite's father, Peloursin the mother. Despite their common genes, Petite Sirah and Syrah are very different wines -- the "petite" son has more muscles and hair on his chest than Dad. – Source: Linda Murphy, San Francisco Chronicle, January 2006

Vinification Our Petite Sirah grapes are grown on our neighbor’s vineyard in Yountville approximately one mile south of the Yountville Hills. Grapes were crushed directly to small open top fermentors and punched down several times a dayto maximize flavor and color extraction. The wine was pressed to barrel where it underwent malo-lactic fermentation. The wine was not fined and was gently filtered before bottling.

Vintage Notes: The 2009 harvest was a bit on the late side, which, considering the dry spring, was a good development.  It was an easy summer with no shriveled fruit leading to beautifully aromatic fermentations. Our rainfall was only two-thirds of normal for the third year in a row; however, the

timing of the precipitation was on the vine’s side. Together with the lack of frost and the mild relatively cool growing season, Mother Nature managed to provide it all, giving the vines and grapes the best scenario possible. Late spring rains delayed irrigation needs and the warm spell in June helped curtail excessive canopy development. While nearly 14 days of 100°f plus temperatures mark a typical growing season, 2009 counted perhaps only four or five overall, again helping to reduce demand for water and allowing the fruit to develop full flavors without fear of raisining or sunburn.

Tasting Notes: Our 2009 Petite sirah is deep in color, with black pepper and herb notes on the nose, ripe flavors of currants and plums, and delivering luscious fruit flavors on the palate. In addition to the deep color and firm tannins one often associates with this variety, the cooler Yountville climate delivers an additional dimension – lively a cidity, giving the wine bright fruit flavors. These rich fruit flavors combine with sweet, toasty oak and firm tannins to make this a rich and complex wine that can develop for years to come. Try this wine with rich meat dishes of lamb, pork or game and their hearty sauces.

Technical Analysis: Varietal 97% Petite Sirah, 3% Petit verdot

Source Yountville, Napa Valley

Harvest Date October 19, 2009

Harvest Sugar/Acid 22.2 Brix/ 0.47 gm/100ml

Total Acid 0.78 gm/100ml

pH 3.65

Alcohol 13.6%

Aging 21 months, 50% French, 50% new

Bottle Date: July 2011

Production: 96 cases