Ridge Lytton Estate Petite Sirah 2019
The oldest Petite Sirah vines at Ridge Lytton Estate were planted in 1901 and the youngest in 2008. In 2002, portions of the Petite Sirah began to be bottled as a separate wine for a limited release until the wine became part of the core range for Ridge in 2009. Petite Sirah is a close relative to Syrah and like Syrah, it is a dark-coloured grape that yields wines with floral aromas, deep colour and full, rich tannins. To moderate tannins, the team at Ridge ferment the grapes de-stemmed, as whole berries. Ageing in twenty-five percent new oak over sixteen months has softened the wine. The 2019 Lytton Estate Petite Sirah manages to capture the power of the variety within an accessible wine. The nose is deep and inky, but lifted by floral notes; the palate is tannic and mineral-driven, yet has a juiciness to the fruit that renders it delicious even at this early stage.
