Visit the Emblem Wines website

2012 Emblem Petite Sirah, Oso Vineyard, Napa Valley
Blueberry and huckleberry aspects bring the fruit forward, without taking over the rich tannins and lean oak characteristics.

Oso Vineyard: The grapes for our Emblem 2012 Oso Vineyard Petite Sirah were harvested from our family’s Oso Vineyard. Planted on slopes rising up from Swartz Creek, it is nestled between Sugarloaf and Howell Mountains in Napa Valley, where the historic Oat Hill Mine Road begins its ascent over the mountain toward Calistoga. There, the vines grow on beautiful, stone-lined terraces, out of a rocky, porous soil at an elevation of 1,250 feet. The high drainage stresses the vines, leading to high flavor concentration. The fruit remains fresh and vibrant throughout the growing season due to mild temperatures – warmer evenings and cooler days than on the valley floor – and afternoon breezes that blow straight down the vineyard rows. From the soil and elevation this mountain fruit extracts intense varietal characteristics, a firm structure, and excellent aging potential.

Vintage Notes: A classic Napa Valley growing season and harvest provided an abundance of quality grapes from which winemakers had to choose in 2012. From spring bud break, through flowering, fruit set, and ripening, conditions were ideal. A consistent stretch of warm summer weather, without large heat spikes and with plenty of cool and foggy nights, ripened grapes to perfection before late rains appeared at the end of October.

Winemaking: A short fermentation period of 12-14 days in stainless steel tanks helped avoid an excessive amount of tannins in the wine. It was then aged for 18 months in neutral French oak barrels.