"Mommy, where did I come from?"
Well, Durif, when a Frenchman loves a Peloursin vine very much, he starts feeling a little experimental and unwittingly takes it upon himself to merge the Peloursin with other grapes.
Then, about one hundred years later, Peloursin will make an appearance on an American daytime TV talk show and get in a shouting match with throngs of unemployed urchins about your real pollen source - your real daddy, little Durif.
Then, some nice scientists - who, by the way, cunningly convinced a pretty prestigious university to dedicate loads of funding to wine studies - these very smart scientists will conduct a genuine DNA paternity analysis to determine who your daddy actually is.
"My daddy? Who is it?"
It's Syrah, my sweet petite Durif. It's Syrah!
"Oh, this is the happiest day of my life!"
It's probably a pretty happy day for the person who shall tell our tale, little Durif, for her relative teaches at that prestigious university in that aforementioned department of clever scientists, and she can give a shoutout to her uncle David at UC Davis.
2010 Aratas Petite Sirah, Napa Valley 750ml 2-Pack
It’s a spring celebration with a sigh of relief as long over due rains finally rush the creek and drench the thirsty vines in our vineyard nestled in the Oak Knoll AVA. This temperate spring takes me back to that 2010 season which started late and exceptionally cool. In a cool season the vines sleep later, fruit takes longer to ripen but like a slow braised roast; redolent, rich aromatic flavors develop that completely envelope the senses. The vintage is being touted as one of the most difficult but also one of the best in several decades and has created wines that will prove intrinsic age worthiness to those who wish to wait. The tepid spring delayed classic mile markers such as bud break, bloom but also veraison and unfortunately threatened to push harvest into the fall rain window. Having one of Napa’s most experienced vineyard managers on our team, Robert Jordan dove in to execute precision canopy management techniques at a very crucial time in the growing season.
Thinning the canopy selectively one leaf at a time lets more sunlight in where needed while leaving just enough shade to protect from a burn if mother nature throws a severe heat blitz, which she did, late in the season just as harvest was kicking off for the early varietals. Clusters showing any signs of burn were dropped to the ground and lucky for Petite, its’ thick skins protect but also require more time so when the heat finally subsided, the grapes at the precipice of ripening were back in a happy state and closed their eyes to bask in the sliding sun just a little bit longer.
Harvest day came at sunrise on October 21st, 2010, just 3 days before the first of the heavy rains moved in. Ultimately the yields were down, our farming costs were painfully up but the quality is stellar and the flavors lush and multifarious.
ARATAS is a premium collage of old world artisan enology and new world viticulture. ”Aratas”, a harvest of gold, is an abundant single vineyard designate Petite Sirah produced in the Napa Valley. The labor of love cultivated between cross country friends celebrates its encore vintage. Like the partners who founded the brand, this noble varietal born from Syrah and Peloursin, is hearty with history and perseverance. One focus and one wine, Aratas is dedicated solely to American Heritage Petite Sirah and represents the very best expression of California terroir.
The brand is a partnership founded on decades of experience in the American food and wine culture. The Chohany brothers, inspired by the hospitality industry while growing up working in the historic taverns of Williamsburg ,Virginia launched their first of many culinary endeavors, Second Street Restaurant; an American Bistro in 1985. Twenty five years later, joined by Stephanie Douglas and Mike Drash the partners released Aratas Wine, the culmination of efforts and a perfect pairing.
Stephanie Douglas, the wife of John Chohany is an entrepreneur from a San Francisco bay area family. She shared her passion for enology and her love for the Napa Valley and brought John and Mickey together with longtime friends and respected Napa winemakers Mike and Tracy Drash. For several years, the friends produced a single vineyard Petite Sirah crafted and bottled by hand, the goal simply to make enough wine for their personal enjoyment. In 2008 an unexpected and unfortunate turn of events presented them with the opportunity to take their craft in a more serious direction. With the belief that quality cuisine and fine wine are meant to be paired, they created Aratas Wine along with the tandem brand Tallulah Wines.
The team is committed to producing the finest artisanal single vineyard designate wines possible using organic farming methods and sustainable practices. This ” harvest of gold ” named to honor the Chohany’s Hungarian heritage, is a nod to the wheat fields surrounding the Tokai vines nearby the Chohany’s old world home and, as fate would have it, Aratas’ new world Napa Valley vineyard.
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