2003 Lytton Estate Petite Sirah

Warm fall temperatures brought intensity and ripeness to the Lytton Springs petite sirah by late September. Most of the grapes go into the main Lytton Springs bottling, but we now have enough mature vines for an Advance Tasting Program release in which the varietal dominates. Particularly firm tannins were moderated during six days of fermentation; we fined with fresh egg whites as the wine aged in barrel. A soft, fragrant zinfandel from Lytton East was added in January, marrying beautifully with the more forthright, deeply-colored petite sirah. The combination of varietals and site is close to ideal, resulting in a wine whose aroma, flavor, and texture are uniquely “true to place.” Balanced and only beginning to soften, this Lytton Estate will clearly benefit from bottle age. It will develop fully over the next ten to fifteen years.

The oldest petite sirah vines on our Lytton Estate were planted in 1901 and the youngest in 1998. We made our first wine from the property in 1972 and until 2002 when we bottled portions of the petite sirah as a separate wine for a limited release, it had always been included in the Lytton Springs Zinfandel.

Average Rating: 91.6

No. of Tasting Notes: 28

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