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Switchback Ridge
The Winery
Switchback Ridge
When immigrants Eliza and Mads Peterson purchased a 100-acre plot of land on the valley floor in Napa in 1914, they never expected it to become their family’s legacy for generations to come. After transforming their beloved Zinfandel vines into a prune orchard during Prohibition, the estate, with the assistance of fourth-generation workers, made its way back to growing grapes. As a family effort in 1999, and with the help of winemaker Bob Foley, the newly named Switchback Ridge Vineyards were able to produce their first vintage. Today, there are 21 acres under vines growing Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petite Sirah, and Founder/ Managing Partner Kelly Peterson continues the tradition that her great-grandfather Mads began nearly 100 years ago.
Tasting Notes
- WA92
- A wine to put away for at least 2-3 years is the inky purple 2003 Petite Sirah. Aromas of graphite, acacia flowers, blueberries, crushed rocks, and a touch of pepper jump from the glass of this formidably endowed, full-bodied monster. It is deep, rich, but well-balanced and pure. Petite Sirah remains the most underrated varietal in California. It can provide remarkable drinking for over two decades. However, it is not for the faint of heart nor for those looking for immediate gratification.
- WS91
- Aromas of baked blackberry pie, espresso and wild berry are dense and concentrated, with the requisite tannic muscle you expect from Petite. Yet it is graceful, at times syrupy and at the end, delicious. Decant. Best from 2007 through 2012. 250 cases made
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