2013 Gallica Petite Sirah Estate St. Helena

Gallica’s sixty-year-old Petite Sirah vineyard sports a scattering of Carignan and Alicante Bouchet vines whose fruit gets tossed into the picking bins, too (why not?). The low-fertility site conspires with the vine age to produce low yields with concentration, and the resulting wine reflects this focus.

In the glass it’s deep red-purple, velvety with bright berry glints. The scent tilts toward the blue and fuchsia end of the spectrum, with dried and macerated blueberries, strawberries, and black raspberries. A suggestion of coffee and tanned hide and a trace of black spices add shape and figure.

It’s lighter on its feet than most Petit Sirahs, and not a raven, inky wine, withal. Pair it with coffee-rubbed meats.

13.9% abv | $50 (sample)