2015 Suisun Valley Red - Tolenas Vineyards & Winery

Muddled dark cherry, thorny bramble, dried blueberry. Boysenberry filling, broken clay pot, huckleberry thicket. Dehydrated rose and violet, smokey tar and woodfire ash. Blackberry, currant, and dried cranberry lead a dense procession of fruit that remains surprisingly tart and restrained despite obvious ripeness. Kindling, chaparral, and dried eucalyptus overtake the fruit with a wild and untamed edge as curry and tarragon subtly complement hints of intriguing exotic spice. A backyard brick oven spills lovely earthy smoke that fills the air amidst briary and unmanicured nature. Full bodied with grippy tannin and boisterous acidity, exhibiting tremendous balance and natural complexity. This 2015 Suisun Valley Red by Tolenas Vineyards & Winery is a gorgeously structured and wonderfully impressive Petite Sirah based blend.

Located just east over the Vaca mountains from Napa Valley, the Suisun Valley is the self proclaimed "Petite Sirah Capital of the World". This bottling, crafted by Tolenas Vineyards & Winery using 50% Petite Sirah / 30% Cab Sauv / 20% Tempranillo sourced from within the Suisun Valley, makes a tremendous case for the validity of this bold statement. This wine possesses the power, structure, and deep color so typical of great Petite Sirah yet instead of chasing concentration its focus never strays from the expression of terroir. The delightful earthy nuances present here express themselves fearlessly in a way that plays perfectly with the ripe yet crunchy fruit. This is an exciting and impressive wine that is as delicious as it is unique. Outstanding.