Growing Conditions
I have worked with Dick Keenan’s Kick Ranch since 2007 and have admired its Upper Vineyard of Petite sirah which was under contract with a famous Napa producer. The vines have better sun exposure and the weaker soils tend to curb the vigor of Petite which can set very big crops. My own rows of Petite at Kick Ranch (before grafting some here at the estate for the ’14 wines) were in a good location, but not as favorable, and were featured in last year’s 2012 Petite release. As luck would have it, I was in the vineyard when this upper section was being picked and a few tons became available and I quickly traded up to this block.
Harvest
Its smaller berries and naturally smaller yields have produced a richly fruited and more elegant wine than last year’s release.
Bottling
Bottling Date July 13, 2015. Bottled with a screwcap.
