Aromas of dark brambly blackberry liqueur, coarsely cracked black pepper, savory spice, and cinnamon aromas. Hints of Mexican-style hot chocolate and ripe mulberries/blueberries begin to evolve, enhancing complexity after some time in the glass. The wine is bold, full-bodied and complex, yet still elegant in the mouth, its character alternating between earthy dark fruits and lingering mocha/vanilla laced spice elements. The tannins are chewy and tame, and the wine has a silky, rich, mouth-filling texture that warms and will continue to evolve and mellow with bottle aging. If you can wait a few years before opening the bottle, you will be rewarded for your patience!
A warm vintage that produced fully ripe fruit, which translated into fruit-forward, aromatic wines. Vine yields were average, as were natural fruit tannin levels. Vintage 2013 produced smooth, rounded wines, packed with varietal aromas and mouth-filling fruit flavors.
Hand sorted clusters, 100% destemmed, berry sorted, then direct to 15 ton fermenter and 3/4 ton bins. Fermented for 21 days, with a combination of hand punch-downs and pump-overs as well as four delestage (rack and return) treatments. Free run wine was drained to barrel directly after fermentation.
91 - A solid and nuanced sip of this varietal for a fair price, this bottling of older vines from Paso's eastern flanks shows plump elderberry and cedar on the elegant nose. A smoked-chocolate flavor hits the palate, bolstered by blackberry syrup, white pepper, bay leaf and dried basil, with plenty of both tannin and acid.
Editors' Choice. —M.K., Wine Enthusiast
Old VinesPetite Sirah
