Stags' Leap Winery Stags' Leap Napa Valley Petite Sirah 2021 750ml

Lovely aromas of toasted herbs, baked plums, nutmeg and chicory root. Full-bodied with tight tannins. Juicy and succulent red and black fruit on the palate, accented by notes of hot paprika, rosemary and allspice. Complex, but remains approachable. 86% petite sirah, 6% syrah, 5% grenache and 3% mixed Rhone varieties. Best after 2025. (James Suckling)

Oak char and black pepper aromas lead to drenching blackberry and blueberry flavors in this rich and intensely tannic wine. The color is black to a reddish rim, the texture is thick and a bit drying, and the body is full. This wine needs time and/or a good decanting to loosen up. Best from 2027.

Lots of ripe blue fruits, violets, flowers, and mineral-laced nuances all emerge from the 2019 Petite Sirah, a medium to full-bodied, inky, yet surprisingly vibrant and lively wine. It has fine tannins, and I love its overall balance. It’s going to have 10–15 years of longevity if well stored.

A bruiser, with concentrated blueberry, smoky meat and cracked pepper flavors that gather tension and tannins on the finish. Best from 2023 through 2030. 35,611 cases made. (Tim Fish)

Aged entirely in American oak (19% new), the 2020 Petite Sirah pairs an interesting mix of garrigue-like notions with mocha and cigar box, plus notes of blueberries, licorice and dark chocolate. It's full-bodied and a bit chewy on the palate but ripe, juicy and long.