VARIETAL & VINEYARD: This Côtes du Rhone-style wine is the “little brother” to our Grenache blend. It is derived from our less structured lots of Grenache, Mourvedre, and Syrah, which are all grown on our Dry Creek Valley estate. We only grow Grenache Noir, which is the clone from Chateâuneuf-du-Pape. Syrah and Mourvedre add color, body, and complexity to the blend.
VINTAGE/HARVEST: Other than a mid-October rainstorm, 2009 was a great vintage for our Grenache. Cool weather during fruit set caused low yields. The growing season was long and cool which allowed the grapes to develop dark color and intense flavors. We harvested our upper Grenache vineyard September 22nd and harvested our Creekside (lower) Grenache on October 9th.
VINIFICATION: We ferment our Grenache, Mourvedre, and Syrah in small, open-top tanks. 25-30% of the grapes are fermented as whole clusters. After a five day cold-soak, the fermentation begins spontaneously with indigenous yeast. The open top tanks allow us to work the must by punching down each tank, twice daily. This wine is bottled after aging 13 months in 620 gallon foudres and neutral French oak barrels. Petit Frere is made from separate lots of our Grenache, ourvedre, and Syrah that were not used in the Grenache or Syrah bottling.
STYLE/DESCRIPTION: The Grenache really drives this wine with lush fruit and crisp acidity, while Syrah and Mourvedre provide color, body, and tannin. Petit Frere usually is a softer, gentler version of our Grenache blend, being a friendly, fruit-forward wine. Think of this wine as a Dry Creek’s version of a Côtes du Rhone that has been on an aggressive weight lifting program.
Harvested: 9/22, 10/9, 10/20-10/23/09
Blend: 67% Grenache, 26% Mourvedre, and 7% Syrah
Total acidity: 0.59g/100ml
Alcohol: 13.9%
pH: 3.85
Bottled: 12/7/09
Aging: 13 mo. Neutral French
oak barrels, foudre
Cases Produced: 440 cases
I bought a bottle of your Petit Frere at K & L in San Fran. It was great!! I live in Chicago land and would like to know if this wine is sold in Chicago.
I bought your Petit Frere on the advice of a young wine guy at Whole Foods in Sebastopol. He told my it was his favorite wine.
Although it was amusing to contemplate that this young man’s taste might align with mine, I was in a hurry, and took a chance. I can’t tell you how pleased I am, that I did.
My guests and I all agreed, that the wine was clearly exceptional…..one of the best we had ever tasted.
I was so grateful for the experience, that I sought out the young wine salesman, and told him how happy we were. He rewarded me by telling me more than I can remember about the making of the wine and why it was so special.
Lesson learned…..Don’t judge the complexity of a wine, or your wine salesman by age alone!