Wines

Winemakers

Education

2002 Petite Sirah, McNab Ranch, Mendocino

Vineyard

McNab Ranch is located in Mendocino County between Hopland and Ukiah, in a small valley west of Hwy 101 and farmed biodynamically using natural composting, cover crops and beneficial insects in place of conventional farming techniques. While biodynamic farming is complex and time consuming, the purity and balance of varietal flavor in the final wine is ample reward.

Vintage

Vintage 2002 started wet, even before the calendar said it was 2002 - we almost had our seasonal average of rain before the New Year Ð with January and February being unusually dry and typically cold. We had light rain at the end of March that slowed down budbreak but without causing any major problems. Unsettled weather through spring kept things interesting. More cool weather in May extended bloom, which could have caused uneven ripening. At the end of May we were about two weeks behind 2001. Veraison began in late July, later than average, but earlier than 1998 and 1999. Moving into the final stages of the growing season we were in pretty good shape considering that our summer had been fairly mild. 2002 was a vintage won in the vineyard, beginning shortly after budbreak with shoot thinning, and on through the season with crop thinning to balance the vines and eliminate any damaged or delayed fruit. This work by our growers allowed us to bring in ripe, uniform, high quality fruit with intense flavors and nice natural acid levels.

Vinification

Great care is taken to capture and preserve the distinct character of McNab Ranch. Biodynamic farming encourages a unique population of yeast and bacteria both in the soil and on the grape, whose unique components are what give the wine a character and flavor distinct to McNab Ranch. We use the indigenous yeast to perform the fermentation, yielding a flavor profile that is one of a kind. This wine underwent a long, slow fermentation, building body and mouthfeel. In total, the wine was aged in French and American oak for 16 months before being bottled in March 2005. Alcohol 14.5%, pH 3.77, Total Acidity .56, Residual sugar .07%. 380 cases produced.

Tasting Notes

Petite Sirah is enjoying renewed popularity, primarily due to the fact that winemakers are treating the varietal "with respect", making it as they would other fine varietal wines, in terms of care and attention to detail. The wines are much better (fruitier, better balanced, less tannic) for it. This one is especially supple, with intense flavors, and a lightly oaky, long finish. In character, it tastes of blackberry, clove, kola nut, cedar, oak and herbs. Will be on its "optimum drinking" plateau over the next 3-6 years. Serve with pizza with smoked duck, broiled steak, beef stew, or wild boar ragout.

Terry Nolan, Winemaker