2012 “Shake Ridge Ranch” Petite Sirah
$52.00
Aratas Shake Ridge Ranch Petite Sirah is grown on the high ridgelands of the Sierra Foothills. Amador county is known for its hot dry climate but our grower’s spectacular ranch is planted to vine at elevations starting at 1650’and climbing rapidly to over 1800’ feet above sea level. Just two small lots produce a coveted amount of Petite Sirah. Both were obtained through the UC Davis Foundation services by renowned grower, Ann Kraemer and noted for their exceptional clone true to the varietal. At this elevation, the vineyard experiences as much as a 50 degree diurnal temperature swing which intensifies the sugars in the fruit then drives the acid when temps drop precipitously fast after sunset. The unforgiving terrain has dramatic slope ranging 10-28% which sheds rain fall so the roots must dive deep to capture what they can thus each tiny berry produced hangs rich and concentrated in flavor.
Vineyard management is extremely laborious. As is typical for Ann’s vineyard management style, each row is scrutinized vine by vine then then pruned just at the precipice of bud break. 2012 was an fairly moderate season with a gentle warm up. The vines were pruned in mid-March, later than our Napa vineyard would typically experience to protect in case of an early frost. The small berry Petite is oriented NE – SW to safely protect against burn yet maximizes exposure to ripening rays. Crucial for development, first drop took place in July allowing the plants as much time as possible to invest their best effort in the excessively low yields as only the most evenly formed clusters will make the cut. The granitic soils of the Sierras are harsh so just before veraison, when the fruit begins to develop the phenols that create its complex aromatics, the vines are fed organic nutrients made from fish emulsion, chicken feathers and other stinky but healthy things. Harvest commenced in the wee hours of October 16th as the temperature pendulum began to transfer its weight. Harvest on Shake Ridge Ranch is performed only at night, typically just hours before sunrise by the light of headlamps, each vineyard worker moving stealthy through the vines, one cluster at a time.
100% Petite Sirah Root stock 101-14 / Clone PFS3 / Lots G & B-Lower
Precision Optical Sort, 7 day cold soak, aged 27 mos in 50% New Trust Hungarian Oak, cellar aged for 12 months before release.
Bottled unfiltered and unfined on native yeasts.
Harvest date Oct 16, 2012.
Winemakers: Matt Sunseri
Grower: Ann Kraemer
14.9% Alc./Vol.
10% Discount on 12 Bottle Purchase
Contact us for reduced shipping on orders of more than 12 bottles or place multiple orders.
Winemaker Notes
Aratas 2012 “Shake Ridge Ranch” Petite Sirah is grown on the high ridge lands of the Sierra Foothills. This is Amador County’s most sought after vineyard.
Amador county is known for its hot dry climate but grower Ann Kraemer’s spectacular Shake Ridge Ranch ranch is planted to vine at elevations 1650′ to 1800’ feet above sea level. Just two small lots produce a coveted amount of Petite Sirah. Both clones were obtained through the UC Davis Foundation services. They are noted for their exceptional clone true to the varietal. Planted at this elevation, the vineyard experiences as much as a 50 degree diurnal temperature swing, This shift intensifies the sugars in the fruit then drives the acid when temps drop precipitously fast after sunset. The pulp is dense and extremely concentrated. Unforgiving volcanic and granitic terrain has dramatic slope ranging 10-28% which sheds rain fall so the roots must dive deep to capture what they can thus, each tiny berry produced hangs rich and full flavored.
Vineyard management is extremely laborious.
As is typical for Ann’s vineyard management style, each row is scrutinized vine by vine then then pruned just at the precipice of bud break. 2012 was a fairly moderate season with a gentle warm up. The vines were pruned in mid-March, later than our Napa vineyard would typically experience to protect in case of an early frost. The small berry Petite is oriented NE – SW to safely protect against burn yet maximizes exposure to ripening rays. The first drop took place in July allowing the plants as much time as possible to invest their best effort in the excessively low yields. Only the most evenly formed clusters will make the cut.
The granitic soils of the Sierra foothills are harsh. The struggle is real.
So, just as veraison begins, the time when the fruit begins to develop crucial phenols that create complex aromatics, the vines are fed organic nutrients. Ann has developed a sustainable fertilization program in tandem with the UC Davis fermentation sciences department that includes fish emulsion, chicken feathers and other stinky but healthy things.
Aratas Wine fourth harvest commenced in the wee hours of October 16th as the temperature pendulum began to transfer its weight. Harvest on Shake Ridge Ranch is performed only at night, by the light of headlamps and begins before sunrise. Each vineyard worker moves stealthy through the vines row by row removing one cluster at a time.
100% Petite Sirah Root stock 101-14 / Clone PFS3 / Lots G & B-Lower
Precision Optical Sort, 7 day cold soak, aged 27 mos in 50% New Trust Hungarian Oak
Bottled unfiltered and unfined on native yeasts.
Harvest date Oct 16, 2012.
Winemaker, Matt Sunseri
Grower, Ann Kraemer
Vintner, Stephanie Douglas
14.9% Alc./Vol.
MRP $52 (750ml)
319 Cases produced
Reviews
97 Points ~ Steve Heimoff
93 Points ~ Wine Enthusiast
90 Points ~ Wine Spectator
“Double Gold” American Fine Wine Competition
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