HandCraft Petite Sirah 2010

By Chris and Sherry Hardie
In the earlier days of the California wine industry, single varietal vintages were not the norm. Instead, winemakers would use
what they harvested fromtheir vineyards and mix them together in what was called a field blend.
That’s the inspiration for this new label from Cheryl Indelicato, a third-generation California winemaker.
The main grape variety is petite sirah (82 percent), but there is a blend of petit verdot, sangiovese, syrah and zinfandel to round out the field. The wine is oak-aged  to sixmonths.
The result is a big, bold, enticing wine with spice and fruit bouquet and full-bodied fruit flavors. It’s dark and chewy, with a long finish.
Sherry: “Medium-dry, fruity black cherry with a touch of leather.” 3-1/2 stars
Chris: “Wisps of leather and smoke, cherry, plum and blueberry.” 3-1/2 stars
Available locally for about $10.
Coming next week: Kendall Jackson Reserve Chardonnay