Grapelive Wine of the Week
By Kerry Winslow
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2007 Sheldon “Weatherly Cuvee” Petite Sirah/Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley.
This is a stunning wine from label to glass, it is sexy and complex, ever changing and seductive with a warm chocolate essence. The nose is Bordeaux like with touches of smoke, vanilla, graphite and crème de cassis, plus a touch of minty menthol. This old vine cuvee has plenty of fruit on the palate and looks set to be a good aging red as well with tannins and acidity holding things together boldly. The mouth is a burst of blackberry, plum and cherry with tobacco, cedar and currant, plus some melted black licorice and pepper. The Sheldon’s found this wonderful field blend vineyard near Calistoga planted to Petit Sirah and Cabernet Sauvignon, old School Napa style and have hand-crafted one barrel, a hogs head and made only about 36 cases. This wine took nearly two years in the oak to come around, this baby was tough to tame, but it looks great now and should even get better in a few more years, though I doubt any bottle survives that long! (65% Petit Sirah-35% Cabernet Sauvignon)
($42 Est.) 93 Points, grapelive
www.sheldonwines.com
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