1972 York Creek Petite Sirah

The grapes at York Creek were among the best we crushed in 1972. The vintage produced a complex wine, less tannic and black than the 1971, but with more of the varietal spice typical of Spring Mountain. The wine is young and should be laid down for several years, but the malolactic fermentation has softened it sufficiently for tasting this fall.

Ridge wine is made with an emphasis on quality and naturalness that is rarely attempted. Our grapes are grown in select vineyards (usually identified on the label), where they are left to ripen to peak maturity, often at some loss of quantity. We let the wine settle and age in small barrels, with only rare cellar treatment other than racking. Varieties are not blended unless indicated on the label. Near Black Mountain on Monte Bello Ridge, our main vineyard is 10 miles south of Palo Alto, 15 miles inland from the ocean, and over 2000 feet in elevation.