2016 Lodi Petite Sirah - Thomas Allen Winery

Juicy boysenberry, spring bramble, almost-ripe strawberry. Fresh raspberry, white rose, plump red plum. Shredded tea leaf and scrub brush, cacao nibs and crushed clove. Wild cherry, currants, and blueberry skin unite in a powerful yet remarkably lean attack brimming with clean natural tones and lifted floral perfume. Nutmeg and espresso complement just a dash of beautifully spiced decadence before being offset by impressions of overgrowth, sandy loam, and cedar. Robust and concentrated yet impressively balanced and restrained; flowing with wonderfully juicy drinkability in the midst of substantial richness. Medium plus in body with elevated tannin and acidity. This 2016 Lodi Petite Sirah by Thomas Allen Winery is a well executed and delightfully authentic California red.

Located south of Sacramento and nearly equidistant between San Francisco and the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Lodi is a historic California wine region that has been undergoing a major renaissance in recent years. This bottling, crafted by Thomas Allen Winery using Petite Sirah grown in Lodi, is an impressive example of this region's distinct and attractive terroir. While it appears quite dense upon first glance and is noticeably purple in the glass this wine drinks with beautiful freshness and finesse. It is pleasantly supported by a nice backbone of acidity that keeps considerable tannin from ever becoming taxing or overwhelming. This wine is clean and correct with a bright fruit profile that eschews anything that might be described as jammy or stewed. A well made offering that lovingly and accurately projects characterful Petite Sirah typicity.