The vines that produced this wine are in their seventies and every year more succumb to old age; in 2007 the vines produced barely three barrels of wine. These old vines are in a cool viticultural area for Petite Sirah, so in cool vintages you can imagine how these old-timers struggle to get their fruit ripe. The grapes were harvested very late in the season; the weather fortunately had remained warm and the vines had enough time and heat to fully ripen the crop. The vines succeeded in 2006 but sadly this is probably the last vintage we'll bottle Petite Sirah. The grape requires extended aging for the wine to develop. After fermentation, the wine was aged in French oak barrels for 20 months then another 20 months in the bottle. The aromas suggest dusty rose and the flavors are of cranberry, mint and bay leaf. Gold Medal winner.