The mouthfeel of this wine is full, almost creamy with beautifully soft, dusty tannins and just a little heat from the alcohol.  The black fruits from the nose are still there on the palate along with a very slight herbaceousness and a bit of tartness and acidity to keep the wine bright and interesting.  There is an impression of nutmeg or pine nuts as the finish continued  and then vanilla as the wine progressed through a very long finish.  After letting the wine sit for several minutes to open up it melded into an incredible impression of blueberries in cream with some great cinnamon and nutmeg on top; think of a blueberry cheesecake and you will get the right mouthfeel and flavors. 

It didn’t take long to figure out why this was a ‘Best of Show’ wine; the balance was beautiful, the finish was still there after a full minute and the complexity  entrancing.  This is truly a case where the vineyard manager and winemaker worked together with nature to produce a wine of unbelievable depth and finesse.  With only 1020 cases produced don’t wait to get yours; it won’t last long. 

Conclusion:  We are not so patiently waiting to see what the 2007 harvest will mean to the entire Foothills wine growing region, and, of course, to the Lava Cap Petite Sirah in particular.  From all indications this was a year of great fruit that prospered in an unusual growing year.  We can’t wait to see the if the resulting wines live up to their promise in the coming years. 

A sad final note; David Jones passed away shortly after the award ceremony in October.  Along with his great professional accomplishments and acting as president of the Lava Cap Winery, David Jones was a tireless advocate of the El Dorado County wine growing region and its ability to produce world class wines. He worked with many in the community, most notably local grower Doug Liesz,  to expand the knowledge of the soil and climate attributes of the area and advance the preservation of the local agricultural industry in the face of advancing residential development. His knowledge, skills and boundless dedication to promoting and protecting agriculture in this region will be sadly missed in the pivotal years to come. 

Click here to read more about the Orange County Fair Wine Competition .

Click here to read more about Lava Cap Winery on our sister site Sierra Wines .