2018 Scarlett Petite Sirah McGah Estate Vineyards Rutherford 750 ml

The section of Rutherford that runs between Silverado Trail and Conn Creek, just north of the Oakville line, is home to some of the most famous vineyards in the US. 

Caymus is there. So is the iconic Georges III Vineyard that Andy Beckstoffer acquired from Beaulieu Vineyard back in 1988. And nestled in the crook of that famed F-shaped terroir is the McGah family vineyard estates—which has put forth one of the greatest Rutherford values we’ve offered.  

This bottle shows why but the most knowledgeable dyed-in-the-wool Napa Valley wine lovers have always been (and will always be) nuts about Petite Sirah. Dark, dense ruby in color, it’s exploding with aromas of black cherry, plum, and cassis accented with violet,  dark cocoa, licorice, and lavender spice. The mouthfeel is lush and balanced with excellent graphite notes and rich tannin that resolve in a long lasting finish.

Take a turn off Silverado Trail onto Skellenger Lane, then take a right onto the road that splits the McGah family’s property, and you’ll see exactly how precious their land is. On the west side of their 65-acre property sits the Heritage Estate vineyard, which consists solely of red grapes and is surrounded on THREE SIDES by Beckstoffer’s Georges III plot.   

In the outstanding 2018 vintage, the McGahs’ old vines supplied multi-100-point winemaker Mike Smith with exquisite materials to make a classic, concentrated Petite Sirah. Fully destemmed and given a three-day cold soak in stainless steel tanks before being inoculated with Williams Selyem yeast, the wine fermented for 15 days before pressing and aging in 40% new French oak.