The vineyards are also planted with old Carignane vines, which when blended with the Petite Sirah, adds complexity and suppleness. The grapes were hand-harvested and transported to the winery. The two Petite Sirahs and Carignanes were vinified separately and blended in February 1999. The wine has been lightly fined and filtered before bottling. This Petite Sirah is bold yet elegant with pepper, currants, blackberry and spice in the bouquet.
Flavors are of ripe dense blackberries, hints of vanilla, black olives, and exotic Asian spices.
Bringing Carignane into the blend adds a new, broader and softer dimension and a hint of rose petal in the bouquet to create an old vine Pickett Road taste experience. While this wine should age for twelve to twenty years, don't miss the opportunity to experience it relatively soon. Pair it with marinated grilled venison, skewered lamb kabobs, or baked ham with honey, clove and peppercorn glaze. This fine Petite Sirah comes from two vineyards that sit right across from each other on Pickett Road at the foot of the Palisades mountains in Northern Napa County. The vines vary in age from 80 to over 100 years old, and are head pruned, dry farmed and shy bearing.