A Gold medal was awarded to our 2007 Old Vines Petite Sirah at the 2011 Grand Harvest Awards: a highly respected industry competition. What sets Grand Harvest Awards apart from the rest is one word…terroir.
Established in 1990, it is the only wine-judging event in North America that is based on terroir – a group of vineyards (or even vines) from the same region, belonging to a specific appellation, and sharing the same type of soil, weather conditions, grapes and wine making savoir-faire, which contribute to give its specific personality to the wine.
In other competitions, this factor is ignored. At the Grand Harvest, judges taste wines with other wines of the same appellation. Thus, with cross-regional competition removed, the inherent quality of wines can be seen without the influences that sometimes eclipse even a wine of very high quality.
A goal of Grand Harvest is to learn more about how terroir contributes qualities of excellence and distinctiveness to wines. Over the course of this event, judges have learned to recognize when terroir is – and is not – a factor of wine quality. All wines are judged in the context of their viticultural region in order to accomplish two things: greater sensitivity to the complexities and nuances of regional wines and also to measure the influence of regional soil and weather characteristics on the taste and quality of individual wines.
Three New Accolades for David Fulton Winery’s
2007 Petite Sirah, Old Vines Napa Valley
As a historic Petite Sirah producer, we’re pleased to announce three new note-worthy, recognitions:
Representing the Largest Competition of American Wines in the World
on January 7th, 2011, the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition concluded the annual week of judging at the Cloverdale Citrus Fairgrounds in Sonoma County, California. Over five days, 60 professional wine experts tasted and evaluated a world-record breaking 5,050 entries from 23 states. They awarded David Fulton’s 2007 Petite Sirah a Silver Medal.
Our 2007 Petite Sirah also came in at #4 in Imbibe Wines’ Top 100 list. Imbibe is located in Bakersfield, California and is one of the state’s most prestigious retailers. “Many have heard us say it: the David Fulton Petite Sirah is one of the finest in the nation and has been our #1 wine on past lists. This wine is huge, powerful, and triumphant carrying the lush softness and immediate succulence of a modern cult Cabernet. Flavors of chocolate, blackberry, blueberry and cherry pie carry through to a thoroughly dry finish with firm tannins,” Says Richard Gilpin, Imbibe Wines’ Certified Sommelier and Wine Buyer.
Red Carpet Wines in Glendale California has also added the 2007 vintage to their Top 100 List – coming in at an impressive number 14. Red Carpet was established as a family business in 1964 and proudly remains that way. Just like us…
Have you had our 2007 Estate Petite Sirah?
There were considerably less days of frost in 2009 than in previous years which lowered to some extent the danger of crop loss. However, late spring rains delayed warm weather until June weather curtailed excessive canopy development. Finally, there were nearly 14 days of 100oF temperatures which brought our overall weather around to a typical growing season.
Winemaker Notes
This year’s vintage, though unique by itself, packs the same wallop of earlier ones. Dark, big and massive as you would expect of a David Fulton, you will find with this one that Petite Sirah is not just a name—it’s our plan for the game. Black fruit and cassis on the nose, the flavors of black berries, black pepper, allspice, cloves and creamy sweet oak are a few of the descriptors that come to mind. The mid palate is coating, thick and packed with texture. There is a long finish with a bit more grip than usual. Drink now, hold for a year or two, or lay it down for a decade—your choice. 281 cases.
Accolades!
93 Points Wine & Spirits Magazine
SILVER International Women’s Wine Competition, 2012
SILVER San Francisco Chronicle Int’l Wine Comp. 2012
SILVER American Fine Wine Competition, Boca Raton, Florida 2012
SILVER San Diego’s International Wine Competition, 2013
2008 Heritage 1860, Bordeaux blend with a ‘kiss’ of Petite Sirah,
Napa Valley
sold out
The wine displays aromas of boysenberry, black current, cloves, allspice and pepper with nuances of dark chocolate and hints of oak. The wine exhibits depth and concentration that caries through to a long, rich finish. This wine is like liquid silk. Blend: 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot, 3% Malbec and 10% Petite Sirah.
We produced only one barrel of this unique blend, just 24 cases!
2008 Our Sweet Petite, Old Vines, Napa Valley Estate
sold out
Our Sweet Petite is a fortified wine made from our over-ripe Petite Sirah grapes with grape brandy added at the precise moment during fermentation to create a delicious after dinner wine. This vintage is very well balanced: pleasingly sweet but not syrupy. It is available in 375 ml bottles only (splits.) We produced only one barrel = 50 cases.
PLATINUM San Diego International Wine Competition, 2012
84 Points Wine Enthusiast
BRONZE American Fine Wine Competition, Boca Raton, FL 2012
Here, at David Fulton Winery, we invite you to fall in love … with our Petite Sirah! Our vineyard, originally planted in 1860 by my great-grandfather, produces less than 400 cases of Petite Sirah a year.
This dry-farmed, estate vineyard is the oldest, continuously owned and operated family vineyard in the state of California.
Our winery and vineyard is located at 825 Fulton Lane, just four blocks east of Hwy 29, in Napa Valley’s historic St. Helena. We don’t have any commercial signage, so you’ll have to look for our address (825 Fulton Lane) to enjoy our winery’s private setting.
If you aren’t in Napa Valley, I hope you enjoy something of a virtual visit here, online. For full effect, you can always ask us to ship a bottle of our award-winning Petite Sirah to sip while surfing our site. If you love it, as we do, you might consider joining our club. It’s just one shipment a year, as we make just the one wine.
Cheers,
Fulton and Dink Mather
Fourth Generation, David Fulton family
