2008 Retro Petite Sirah Howell Mountain
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Retro's 2008 Petite Sirah Howell Mountain is deep, rich and racy. Firm mountain tannins frame an explosive core of dark, inky fruit. An exciting, full-throttle mélange of varietal aromas and flavors saturate the palate. The 2008 is intense, full-bodied and drop-dead gorgeous. Smoke, scorched earth, new leather and savory herbs inform the muscular, intense finish. I imagine it will still be compelling at age 20, but the tannins need time to soften. In 2008 frost lowered yields dramatically, resulting in an especially rich powerful wine.
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Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Antonio Galloni, Wine Advocate
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The 2008 Petite Sirah Napa Valley bursts from the glass with racy blackberries, black currants, exotic spices, new leather and licorice. A big, full-bodied wine, the 2008 has come together beautifully since I tasted it last year. I especially like the way the wine continues to open up in the glass. Black olives, savory herbs and melted road tar are some of the notes that develop over time, adding further complexity and depth. This is a terrific effort. The Napa Valley Petite Sirah is made from Pope Valley fruit. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2023. Mike Dunn works alongside his father Randy at the family's Dunn Vineyards and also makes these Petite Sirahs at Retro, the label he runs with his wife, Kara. The flagship Howell Mountain Petite Sirah is made from Randy Dunn's Park Muscatine vineyard. The Retro wines are big, full-throttled and fiercely tannic, but develop beautifully with time in the bottle. Tel. (707) 965-1042