Mission Codename May the Petite be with you
Happy Saturday to all you lovers of amped-up, full-throttle reds. We got a DOOZY today.
And for that reason, we interrupt your weekend with a message from the President.
President and cofounder of the one and only ‘Petite Sirah Advocacy Organization’ in the world that is!
Half off a straight-up, crazy crushable, wicked potent blueberry pie bomb. At $19 the Force is VERY STRONG here.
Think ‘Master Yoda teaching Luke how to lift an X-wing with eyes closed’ strong.
A Wine Spies stalwart for years, Miro Cellars is back, this time with their latest Petite Sirah bomb. This low-key winery in Sonoma was pioneered by, well, our friend Miro Tcholakov. He arrived in Napa to work a harvest in 1990 which spurred a nine-year stint at Dry Creek Vineyard where he moved up to winemaking. Today he makes wine for the storied Trentadue Winery but does his own thing on the side, a small passion project if you will. We’ve been lucky enough to get on his good side, and he hooks up with wildly delicious deals whenever he has a few cases to spare.
For this wine Miro makes a totally opulent style that holds NOTHING back.
Back in the day, Petite Sirah was the grape to grow in Napa before Cab took the throne. Nowadays, modern winemaking has tamed the tannic, rustic edge, and great examples like this flash a big, balanced personality with all manner of deep jammy fruit and structure that’s forgiving enough to enjoy young.
Dry Creek is precious terroir, especially for legendary Petite Sirahs and Zins. With household names such as Ridge Lytton Springs, A. Rafanelli, Teldeschi, Carlisle, Dashe, Carol Shelton, or Pezzi King surrounding, Miro’s is up there with the crème de la crème. An earlier harvest than usual in 2020 concluded in a single Coyote Ridge Petite, with otherwise RESERVE fruit blended in, so the value factor is thru the roof.
In the glass it’s viscous, staining the glass black-blue-purple with no rim to speak of. If you need ink, it will sub well, but wouldn’t that be a waste? An explosion of ripe red and black cherries, spiced plums, crushed violets, and earth are found on the dark and inviting nose. The palate flashes a mouthful of velvety tannins engulfed in black and blue fruits with espresso and cardamom hints. The finish… a minute into it, aptly balanced, continues lingering in shimmering vibrancy. Do I hear ribs?
All this for $19!? Locker-stocker material!
What the Winery Says
2020 Coyote Ridge Vineyard DCV Petite Sirah
- Winemaker
- Miro Tcholakov
- Varietals
- 98% Petite Sirah, 2% Grenache
- Vintage
- 2020
- Alcohol
- 14.6%
- Appellation
- Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma County
- Vineyard
- Coyote Ridge Vineyard
- Harvest Date
- September 10, 2020
- Brix at harvest
- 26°
- pH
- 3.65
- TA
- 0.61
- RS
- 0.3%
- Production
- 297+ cases
- Bottling Date
- March 8, 2022