2016 Crux Winery, Petite Sirah, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County.
Though not a current release, Crux’s 2016 Petite Sirah is available still directly as a library selection and it is well worth checking out with loads of upfront blackberry, dark currant, plum and candied cherry fruits and a richly tannic mouth feel that excites lovers of this varietal and also is backed up with hints of leather, toasty oak, dark chocolate, licorice, crushed violets and dried lavender accents. While 2016s have plenty of grip, they are starting to reveal a nice supple full bodied palate that delivers a hedonistic physical pleasure and lingering creamy aftertaste and this inky purple Petite is delicious and at its best with hearty meat dishes. While far less port like that some, this is a big wine with a luxurious personality, again with protein in meat or cheese form, coming in at a healthy 15% or so of natural alcohol, this Crux Petite Sirah makes its presence felt in the glass. The winery specs list Petite Sirah 90%, Zinfandel 5% and Syrah 5% which is pretty much the normal break down for this wine and adds some freshness and complexity to the whole. This was my first experience with Crux’s Petite Sirah, after mostly tasting their Rosé, GSM and Grenache Blanc efforts in the recent years and so far it’s my favorite.
Somewhat new on the scene, Crux Winery, who’s owners Brian Callahan and Steven Gower, are dedicated to make handcrafted small lots of mainly Rhône style wines done with a California flare, using varietals including Grenache, Syrah, Mourvédre, Grenache Blanc and Viognier, as well as a little Zinfandel and Petite Sirah, as seen here. Brian and Steven say that they focus on wines that capture the unique characteristics of Sonoma County’s Russian River Valley, where they live and has a rich history of winemaking and great wines. The wines are compellingly ripe and lush to my palate, and the winery adds that they are rich, complex and balanced, without excessive alcohol levels or overripe fruit flavors, though obviously they are bigger, boldly expressive and not shy. As grape growers and winemakers, Steven and Brian, farm with sustainable and earth friendly practices and all of their estate grapes and other select vineyard sites, owned by growers, are cared for using a similar philosophy and embrace more holistic environmental practices. The wines are made with clean traditional methods and aged in quality French oak with a restrained use of new wood. Just 170 cases of the 2016 Crux Petite Sirah was produced and it was great to try a wine with some time on it to develop, and I can see this one drinking nicely for many years to come as well.
($45 Est.) 92 Points, grapelive