What do wine geeks love to do?  Out geek each other by bringing obscure wines to taste when they visit.  This particular one was hand delivered to Canada by a wine friend whom I met when taking the Court of Master Sommelier (level I) exam.

Like many a wine enthusiast, he has a demanding full time job but volunteers weekends at a local winery.  Eager to share their work with me, he spirited this across the border recently and we enjoyed it with lamb and potatoes roasted with fresh rosemary.

This winery based at the south end of Napa Valley is a project that prides itself on producing wine from often ignored grapes.  This is a Petite Syrah wine showing a very deep shade of ruby with no signs of age despite being 11 years old.

The nose is full of boysenberry and garrigue with tar with ever-so-slightly hot alcohol.  The palate is dry with pleasant acidity and solid body, strained tannins that adored our lamb, and flavours showing more field berry alongside Dutch licorice, dried herb and black pepper with tar.  

WSET Very Good and despite its age, it’s still young and assertive and could easily be laid down for 5 more years.  Hard to find for sure, but worth it if you are anywhere in the Bay Area.