TN: 1970 Robert Mondavi Napa Petite Sirah

1970 Robert Mondavi Napa Petite Sirah, 12% alc.: Slightly cloudy, almost inky dark garnet color, and little rust as of yet; lovely aromatics of sweet spices and red and black berries carry over onto the palate with some earth underneath it all. Perfectly balanced, with fully resolved tannins. Not quite up to the 71 Ridge and Freemark Abbey York Creek Petty Sarahs that we so enjoyed at Ridgestock in '02, but pretty darned close. Many thanks to our friend Jim Brennan for opening this beauty from his birthday year.

- from More Wines with Friends

Reporting from Day-twah,

geo t.

[David M. Bueker]

Wow. That's very impressive.

Wow. That's very impressive.

That's what we thought!

I loved the petite sirahs from that era. Believe it or not one of the best was Concannon. I spent a day with Jim Concannon while he was bottling.

I loved the petite sirahs from that era. Believe it or not one of the best was Concannon. I spent a day with Jim Concannon while he was bottling.

Yes, I remember them being pretty good back then, but I don't think they were in the same league as this & the York Creeks from Ridge & Freemark Abbey. Burgess also made some delicious Pettie Sarahs back then before they took out the vines & replaced them with Cab Sauv.

Just my 2 oz.,

geo