SANTA BARBARA COUNTY  |  LOS ALAMOS VALLEY

Each year the Petite Sirah is our inkiest and most powerful wine, and the 2019 is no exception. Aromatics show pure blackberry and boysenberry fruit, cocoa powder, and sandalwood. Flavors start with more primary fruit, and show graphite, eucalyptus, and smoky character with aeration. With a silky, full texture, this wine has appeal in its youth, but also possesses the structure to age well into a decade.

Reviews

Jeb Dunnuck  92 Points ~ The 2019 Petite Sirah Thompson Vineyard (100% varietal) comes from a great site in Alisos Canyon and was brought up in American oak. This deep purple effort boasts loads of black and blue fruits, candied violets, vanilla oak, and peppery herb aromatics to go with a full-bodied, mouth-filling, nicely textured, yet still straight and structured style on the palate. It's a nearly perfect steakhouse red and should have a decade of longevity, although there's no need to delay gratification. Maturity 2021-2031. — Jeb Dunnuck

Wine Enthusiast  93 Points Editors' Choice ~ One of the few Petite Sirahs from Santa Barbara County, this bottling always shows an intriguing cool-climate kick, starting with intensely floral aromas of violet, cassis, and blueberry ice cream. The palate shows those floral tones even more powerfully than the nose, loaded with black fruit, lavender, more violet, and a pinch of pepper spice. — Matt Kettman

Vinous  93 points ~ The 2019 Petite Sirah Thompson Vineyard is an inky, deep, full throttle wine. A touch of American oak works well with the natural richness of the Petit fruit. Crème de cassis, blackberry jam, mint, lavender, chocolate, spice, and lavender linger. Drinking window 2023-2031. — Antonio Galloni

2018 Petite Sirah, Thompson Vineyard

Jeb Dunnuck  92 Points ~ A year-in, year-out smoking value, the 2018 Petite Sirah Thompson Vineyard reveals a deep purple color as well as a big nose of blueberries, bouquet garni, chocolate, and gravelly earth. Rich, full-bodied, and packed with fruit, it still has good acidity, terrific balance, and a great finish. — Jeb Dunnuck

Vinous  93 Points ~ The 2018 Petite Sirah Thompson Vineyard is deep, inky and extravagant. Unctuous fruit dominates over nuance and varietal character, but I am not sure how much that truly matters, as the 2018 offers tremendous appeal. The typically incisive young Petite tannins are pretty tamed here, and that just allows the up-front boldness of the fruit to come through loud and clear. Drinking window 2022-2030. — Antonio Galloni.

2017 Petite Sirah, Thompson Vineyard

Wine Advocate  93 Points ~ Inky purple-black in color, the 2017 Petite Sirah Thompson Vineyard gives up pretty blue flowers and blueberry candy notes to begin, with loads of exotic spice over bramble berry preserves and baked blackberries. Full and absolutely luscious on the palate, it fills the mouth with spicy fruit layers, with firm but approachable tannins and good freshness, finishing very long. Yum! Drink date 2020-2030. — Erin Brooks

Jeb Dunnuck  92 Points ~ The 2017 Petite Sirah Thompson Vineyard sports a deep, saturated purple color as well as a ripe, sexy bouquet of blue and black fruits, road tar, Asian spices, and ground herbs. Ripe, concentrated, with building tannins, it's a quintessential steakhouse red that's going to offer loads of pleasure over the coming decade or more. Maturity 2019-2019. — Jeb Dunnuck

2016 Petite Sirah, Thompson Vineyard

Wine Advocate  93 Points ~ No one could mistake the 2016 Petite Sirah Thompson Vineyard from Jaffurs for anything but a Petite Sirah, but it's also remarkably elegant, wafting from the glass with aromas of plum preserve, tar, inky black fruits and licorice. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied and velvety, with good concentration and sappy fruit, deep and richly tannic without ever becoming overbearing. Maturity 2018-2026. — William Kelley

Jeb Dunnuck  92 Points ~ The team at Jaffurs always makes a rocking Petite Sirah and the 2016 Petite Sirah Thompson Vineyard is no exception. Black fruits, charcoal, camphor, and graphite notes all emerge from this big, opulent, balanced red that has sweet tannin, tons of fruit and a great finish. It's a perfect steak house wine and should keep for 7-8 years, probably longer. Maturity 2018-2026. — Jeb Dunnuck

Wine Enthusiast  93 Points  Editors' Choice ~ If cool-climate Petite Sirah ever becomes a trend, this bottling will lead the pack. Aromas of cracked pepper, tar and hearty black plum lead into a palate where boysenberry is lifted by white pepper, thyme and rosemary. It's zesty and fascinating. — Matt Kettmann