The Tofanelli heritage vineyard is located at the top of Napa Valley near the town of Calistoga. To tour their vineyard is to walk back in history. The first vines were planted back in 1929. Their vines are 100% dry-farmed with no irrigation and organic practices are honored just the way it was farmed back in the day. Known for their Zinfandel, the family also takes pride in growing Petite Sirah, Charbono, Sauvignon Musqué, Semillon, Carignane, Grenache, Mondeuse Noir and Cinsault. A few of the grape varietals are rarely seen in Napa Valley. Vince Tofanelli’s winemaking philosophy is all about California extraction with European elegance. Traditional winemaking techniques are used to allow the wine to age gracefully. This old-vine Petite Sirah has five percent Grenache added to bolster the spice and aromatics. This wine is built to age for a decade plus. This is one of the few categories in Napa with an affordable price point that can age with the best $150++ Napa Cabs. The 2015 Petite Sirah displays a dark as night hue, offering scents of black and blue fruits, spice box seasoning, and tilled soil nuances. It’s full-bodied, and full-throttle on the palate. With all the dark concentration, there is still a lovely silkiness around the edges. The bold tannin structure is starting to soften up with the extra few years of bottle age. This is at the perfect sweet spot to enjoy now with the ability to cellar for another five to seven years easily. Raise a glass to old-vine liquid history and to the Italian heritage that has shaped Napa Valley.