• Cracked pepper & spice
• Blueberry jam
• Cedar & star anise
• Polished tannins

"Sweetly fruited and gorgeously expressed, the fragrant bouquet shows blackberry, blueberry jam, violet, cedar and anise characters, followed by an intensely flavoured palate that is supple and velvety. This is powerful yet graceful, wonderfully complemented by spicy complexity and polished tannins" Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, May 2019

The inaugural release of Match Book's Estate Bottled Petite Sirah has everything you would expect from this intensely flavored grape. Seductive, heady aromas of ripe plum, cardamom, earth and vanilla are followed by bold flavors of blackberry cobbler, cracked pepper and spice. Firm tannins are balanced by a broad dark berry finish that lingers on the palate.

The grapes were gently crushed 20 minutes after harvest, then fermented in small temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks. Winemakers used a combination of specially selected yeast to enhance color and flavor extraction without harsh tannins. THe tanks were pumped over twice a day until nearly dry, then pressed and aged the wine in a variety of French, Hungarian and American oak barrels for 16 months. Barrel lots were selected for their robust structure and intense flavor to create the first Estate Bottled Petite Sirah.

East of Napa, Left of Center: The Giguiere family embodies Dunnigan Hills winemaking. In 1981 they pioneered grape-growing in this region when they planted their very first vineyard. By 1993 they’d succeeded in making the Dunnigan Hills a nationally recognized American appellation. The Matchbook flame is an homage to the Giguiere brothers’ youthful fascination with fire. Today Matchbook Wine Company produces over 15 wines showcasing the varietals that perform best in this warm, dry climate.

Food Pairing: Pair this full-bodied, rugged wine with juicy lamb sliders, spicy sausages or baby back ribs.