2018 Vinum Cellars Petite Sirah Clarksburg 750 ml

“It’s everything a lover of bold red wines looks for,” said VP of Wine Eduardo Dingler after pouring himself a second glass of this powerful Petite Sirah. Bearing a 90-point score from Wine Enthusiast, this wine shows what’s made Petite Sirah a quintessential California variety: the concentration to delight Napa Cab purists with the silkiness and spice to keep Rhône enthusiasts coming back.

This 2018 shows a fine balance of full-throttle dark fruit and fresh acidity thanks to the impressive craftsmanship of winemakers Richard Bruno—who’s guided wineries to high honors from Wine Enthusiast—and Chris Condos, one of California’s earliest proponents of organic winemaking.

This Petite Sirah hails from Wilson Farms—whose grapes also go into wines at member-favorite Beringer—where the grapes ripen leisurely, developing a scintillating concentration of flavor. “We hang it extra long so that it gets that really nice, ripe fruit,” said Richard. “But it’s the cooling trend that maintains the natural acidity that makes the wine balanced.”

That “cooling trend” is a hallmark of the fast-rising Clarksburg AVA, where Petite Sirah can truly shine in not just inky boldness, but also nuance and energy. Though warm and sunny, Clarksburg’s sites enjoy an afternoon coolness from the San Francisco Bay, mitigating the morning heat. It’s the opposite of the morning chill and afternoon sun you’ll see in Napa, and every bit as ideal for producing big yet finely balanced reds.