Fall ’22 Club: 2019 EX MARIETTA Petite Sirah
We’re thrilled to release our first single-varietal Petite Sirah in nearly two decades as part of our member-exclusive EX MARIETTA series. This 100% Petite Sirah from our Angeli Ranch estate in Alexander Valley is bold, flavorful, and the perfect complement to rich, nuanced fall meals. Learn more about this exciting new release below.
EX MARIETTA is intended for the curious palate, one that seeks nuance, tension, and atypical balance. We’re capturing thrilling snapshots in the cellar—small lot wines that excite us as a winemakers and artists—and giving them a smaller stage and tighter frame.
2019 EX marietta Petite Sirah
EX MARIETTA Series
100% Petite Sirah, Angeli Ranch, Alexander Valley AVA
Sourced from a single vineyard block comprised of shale and gravel soil. Handpicked, fermented at cooler-then-normal temps in stainless steel, and aged 20 months in neutral French oak barrels.
TASTING NOTES
Smelling this wine is like finding refuge in a cool, dark cave in the middle of the afternoon. There is a change in the temperature, a stillness, and an absence of sound. Earth and iron-rich rock rise to the nose. A hint of the heady forest floor outside still wafts in. The aromatic space is protected, strong, and available… and feels like it will be there whether you visit or not. On the mouth, texture is the first impression: like fine silt flowing over the river bottom, a feeling of motion, erosion, and settling. Bitter chocolate, plum cake, and blueberries swirl through the incredible density of flavors. Given the intensity, the wine is amazingly bright, clean, and still nimble.
PAIRING SUGGESTIONS
Time-worn, pure, and monolithic… this wine will stand up to wild game, mirror the darkness of Oaxacan mole negro, help ground the creamy crustiness of french bread and cheese, or deepen a beef stew, all while giving both your taste buds and mind layers of stimulation for any evening.
CRITICS REVIEWS
96 POINTS | Wine Advocate: “Deep ruby-purple in color, the 2019 Petite Sirah is scented of blueberry, plums and dark cherry candy, with touches of tar, tobacco, violet and iron that continue to blossom as it spends time in the glass. The full-bodied palate is powerful yet restrained, its concentrated, floral fruits supported by clay-textured tannins, seamless acidity, and it has a long, layered finish. It’s a fantastic example of Petite Sirah that maintains elegance and lift—not an easy feat for this inherently powerful variety..”
This wine is included in the 2022 Fall Club Shipment, along with our 2019 EX MARIETTA Petite Sirah, and our 2019 Christo Red from our Family series Learn more about the Marietta Wine Club here.
Vineyard Notes
The Angeli Ranch was sold to Chris Bilbro in 1990 by Viola Angeli, whose family had originally settled the land in 1886. When Viola was ready to sell the property, she offered it to Chris Bibro because he had purchased the grapes from the ranch for many years and always visited with Viola regularly. 35 acres of vineyards connect gravel swales from the Russian River to terraced knolls invisible from the valley floor. The Angeli Zinfandel takes its name from the homesteading family and exemplifies the cool effect of these unique vineyards in a bright, tense, and stony expression of Zinfandel.
Keep Exploring
2022 Fall Club Selection
2019 Angeli Zinfandel. LEARN MORE>
2019 Christo Red. LEARN MORE>
2019 EX MARIETTA Petite Sirah. SHOP NOW>