2016 PETITE SIRAH, Lytton Estate, Ridge. Sonoma, California

100% Petite Sirah, matured for 12 months in American oak (20% new wood).

Paul Draper’s Ridge is perhaps the most respected winery in California. Even more so now that the three separate estates (Montebello, Geyserville and Lytton Springs) have their own wineries and so operate like a French ‘Domaine’ rather than a bigger operation. This is from the Lytton Springs estate in Sonoma.

Petite Syrah develops very slowly; sometimes it hardly moves at all. Certainly it never sheds its tannic grip. But I predict this will reach its peak in 2030.

Petite Sirah (no relation to Syrah) produces defiantly powerful, intense, tannic wines. Normally used as part of a blend (the vines for this wine were previously part of the make-up of the Lytton Springs Zinfandel) it’s a brave winemaker who bottles it alone. Maturity helps, as does some really robust meat accompaniment (think game or a slow-cooked casserole).

“The 2016 Petite Syrah Lytton Springs is another fabulous wine in this range. Dense and powerful, the 2016 is endowed with striking depth and tons of character. The Petite tannins are nicely tamed in a wine that offers superb quality and pedigree. Crème de cassis, graphite, lavender and mint are front and center. The 2016 remains quite primary though, so readers need to be patient. .” – Antonio Galloni, Vinous.Com, writing in 2018.