2017 Jeff Cohn - Petite Sirah Russian River Valley Sweetwater Springs Vineyard (750ml)

Jeff Cohn spent years as head winemaker at Rosenblum Cellars before striking out on his own, naming his label in part as a tribute to his mother, Iris, who helped him get the winery started. Since then he has built a reputation for coaxing distinctive character out of a wide range of varieties, from Zinfandel and Syrah to Viognier and Petite Sirah, sourced from a tight circle of Sonoma County vineyards.

Sweetwater Springs Vineyard sits in the Russian River Valley, planted in 2004 across elevations from about 300 to 1,000 feet, so lower blocks catch cooling fog while hillside fruit gets extra sun. The Petite Sirah is hand-picked, cold-soaked, and gently foot-stomped, with a portion of whole clusters left intact. The wine then ages about eighteen months in a mix of new and neutral French oak, and the vineyard yields only a couple hundred cases each vintage.

The wine pours nearly opaque, with a dense core of blue and black fruit layered over scorched earth, graphite, and violet. Thick, grippy tannins carry notes of lavender, black pepper, and gamy meat through to a long finish. Pair it with venison stew, grilled wild boar, or aged blue cheese.