 The Story of LOT 1
The 2004 Lot 1 is our lucky seventh vintage of this unusual wine that began as an imaginary combination during a blending trial. Several years ago, Eric & Phillip were tasting and talking their way through small lots of Petite Sirah and Petit Verdot. Tasting slowed and conversation digressed while Eric and Phillip wondered what would happen if we combined these two powerhouse varietals?
Petite Sirah is dark and inky in color, with a hearty, voluptuous texture, and characters of blackberry and black pepper. Petit Verdot shows deep, purpley colour, with a full body, firm tannins and notes of exotic florals, spicy perfume and mineral. Rarely produced as a varietal wine, Petit Verdot is generally blended into Cabernet Sauvignon based wines. Both grapes have their place, but traditionally not in the same bottle. Would blending them together be madness…….or……genius? With an established track record of extraordinary accolades and a very loyal following, we think you’ll agree, that it’s decidedly a bit of both.
Vintage
Demonstrating many similarities to the 1997 vintage, the 2004 growing season began with normal rainfall followed by an early, pleasantly warm Spring marked by timely budbreak and bloom. The first signs of veraison appeared several weeks ahead of schedule in the first few days of July. Cooler summer temperatures allowed for steady, even ripening of the moderately sized crop. A few days of hot, windy weather in August lent a final touch of richness and concentration to the fruit.
Vineyard
Rattlesnake Acres, an old, head pruned vineyard northeast of Calistoga with a reputation for concentrated fruit again provided the base of Petite Sirah. Our estate vineyards north of St Helena provided Petit Verdot and Zinfandel. Noted for its well-drained alluvial soils, our family vineyard produces complex wines with well defined fruit flavors.
Vinification
Following harvest, the grapes were de-stemmed but not crushed, allowing increased control over tannin extraction by minimizing the possibility of broken skins and split seeds. Following a 48-hour cold soak to extract color and flavor, the grapes were fermented for 10 days, with punch-downs occurring twice daily. The free-run was transferred to French and American oak barrels, where it then aged for 20 months and was bottled without filtering. The Petite Sirah provides a base of spice and rich extract, the Petite Verdot adds structure and concentrated berry fruit, and the Zinfandel adds a note of lush briar.
Wine Profile
Lot 1, our maverick blend of Petite Sirah and Petit Verdot, is a big and powerful red wine. Heaps of concentrated red and dark fruits conjuring nuances of baked preserves that are generously balanced by graceful tannins. Plum sauce, berry pies, and strappy molasses flavors along with subtle mineral notes linger on the palate through a lengthy finish. Our 2004 LOT 1 is drinking beautifully now but will also reward those with a cellar and some will power. Recommended drinking time is five to six years from vintage with a maximum suggested aging time of ten to fifteen years from vintage. CAUTION: This wine will turn your teeth blue!
Detailed Wine Information
Vineyard Manager: Eric Titus
Winemaker: Phillip Titus
Appellation: Napa Valley
Blend: 65% Petite Sirah, 30% Petit Verdot, 5% Zinfandel
Harvest Dates: 9/10/04 - 9/28/04
Barrel Aging: 22 months, 60% new barrels, 50% French and 50% American oak
Bottled: August 2006
Cases Produced: 122
Alcohol: 14.5%
Total Acidity: .56 g/100 ml
pH: 3.85
Release Date: October 9, 2007
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