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Eighty Four Wines Napa Valley Petite Sirah 2012
94 Points Wine Spectator Doug Shafer & Elias Fernandez are the well-known winemaking team behind Shafer Vineyars who produce some of Napa Valley's best wines including the legendary Hillside Select. They have just released the inagural wines from their new small-production label, Eighty Four, which represents the year they started making wine together. The first few years were challenging – experimenting, working long hours, learning from mistakes, pushing to make the best wines they could. This wine represents two friends going full circle – making wine together, trying new things, doing what they love. That's the spirit they are trying to recapture in their new label. The Petite Sirah is a stunner but extremely limited. 94 Points Wine Spectator: "This is dark, bold and highly aromatic, yet retains a sense of restraint and grace. Sandalwood, white pepper, dried lavender and rosemary give in to ripe, juicy huckleberry and blueberry flavors. The tannins are both mouthfilling and plush. The finish just goes on and on. Drink now through 2030. 300 cases made." The Robb Report: "The extraordinarily dark Eighty Four Petite Sirah exudes perfumes of ripe apple, earthy charred oak, pomegranate, and raspberry. This is an opulent expression of an underappreciated grape, replete with concentrated flavors of blackberry, roasted coffee, porcini mushroom, and anise.” Winemaker Doug Shafer & Elias Fernandez Notes: Petite Sirah has a long history in Napa Valley. We first became acquainted with it in the 1970s as a homemade wine that local grape growers made and stored in their barns and basements. The wine can be a burly wall-of-flavor unless tamed to allow its subtler, delicious dimensions and inherent elegance emerge. Toward that end we aged this wine for nearly four years in new French oak and another year in bottle prior to its release.
Ratings on Delectable
Shay A 
A project between Doug Shafer and Elias Fernandez. I think I’ve had this for at least five years and have never known the ideal time to open it. I don’t drink much petite sirah, but when TX barbecue is the food on the table, I figured this would work, and it did. 48 months in barrel! Inky in the glass with aromatics of potpurri, fresh squeezed dark berries, mixed berry cobbler, and espresso. Expecting a brash profile on the palate, I was greeted by a rather tame (albeit juicy) style which had great mid-palate depth. Freshly squeezed raspberries, black raspberries, blueberries, red and black currant, hint of peppered rhubarb and dark chocolate. Compared to other PS wines I’ve enjoyed (Switchback Ridge, Vincent Arroyo) this is less chocolate and spice driven, but the juicy and rich mid palate is there in spades. Oak tannin at the finish but not harsh. Paired really well with TX brisket and sauce. Seems to be in a good window now, but PS always seems to me like it can hold for a while, so no rush.
A project between Doug Shafer and Elias Fernandez. I think I’ve had this for at least five years and have never known the ideal time to open it. I don’t drink much petite sirah, but when TX barbecue is the food on the table, I figured this would work, and it did. 48 months in barrel! Inky in the glass with aromatics of potpurri, fresh squeezed dark berries, mixed berry cobbler, and espresso. Expecting a brash profile on the palate, I was greeted by a rather tame (albeit juicy) style which had great mid-palate depth. Freshly squeezed raspberries, black raspberries, blueberries, red and black currant, hint of peppered rhubarb and dark chocolate. Compared to other PS wines I’ve enjoyed (Switchback Ridge, Vincent Arroyo) this is less chocolate and spice driven, but the juicy and rich mid palate is there in spades. Oak tannin at the finish but not harsh. Paired really well with TX brisket and sauce. Seems to be in a good window now, but PS always seems to me like it can hold for a while, so no rush.
9.2
James Forsyth
This is a wine from the Shafer team. Petit Sirah is such an under loved grape. Cherry, leather, licorice and spice. Velvety in texture with plush tannins. Would have been perfect with a barbecued burger.
This is a wine from the Shafer team. Petit Sirah is such an under loved grape. Cherry, leather, licorice and spice. Velvety in texture with plush tannins. Would have been perfect with a barbecued burger.
9.2
Julia Geisler
I’ve been reading a lot of reviews that talk about ”hints of licorice” and today I finally found a wine I can use this description for. I’m not overwhelmed by the wine so much as the opportunity to use the descriptor.
I’ve been reading a lot of reviews that talk about ”hints of licorice” and today I finally found a wine I can use this description for. I’m not overwhelmed by the wine so much as the opportunity to use the descriptor.
9.0Michael Coscetta
2012 bottle. Perfectly smooth at this point, especially after another 1 hour decant
2012 bottle. Perfectly smooth at this point, especially after another 1 hour decant
9.4Charlie Tapp
Dried beef, blue fruit, sandalwood, pink Himalayan salt, white pepper and pie crust.
Dried beef, blue fruit, sandalwood, pink Himalayan salt, white pepper and pie crust.
9.2Michael Coscetta
Needs several more years. Delicious but high sulfur on the nose and high tannins on the taste.
Needs several more years. Delicious but high sulfur on the nose and high tannins on the taste.
8.8Charlie Tapp
Blue fruit and pie crust.
Blue fruit and pie crust.
9.1Charlie Tapp
Blue fruit and baking spice.
Blue fruit and baking spice.
9.3
Brian Nickerson
Full throttle, teeth staining beast. Will wait to open the next bottle but certainly not disappointed with the results today
Full throttle, teeth staining beast. Will wait to open the next bottle but certainly not disappointed with the results today
9.1Willie Carter
Dark cherry red in the glass with light purple accents. On the nose there’s roasted coffee, cinnamon, stewed plums, and generous smoke. This is a big, bad Napa Petite Sirah and often that can go awry. But you do know who makes this, don’t you? Beautiful structure with deep complexity and lively fruit. Initially blue fruits, cloves, and oak on the palate. After a bit of time you’ll find grilled meat, chocolate, vanilla, and a touch of menthol. Long finish with black pepper and rose petals. This is surprisingly sleek and sexy wine.
Dark cherry red in the glass with light purple accents. On the nose there’s roasted coffee, cinnamon, stewed plums, and generous smoke. This is a big, bad Napa Petite Sirah and often that can go awry. But you do know who makes this, don’t you? Beautiful structure with deep complexity and lively fruit. Initially blue fruits, cloves, and oak on the palate. After a bit of time you’ll find grilled meat, chocolate, vanilla, and a touch of menthol. Long finish with black pepper and rose petals. This is surprisingly sleek and sexy wine.
9.1
See all reviews and ratings on Delectable WARNING: DRINKING DISTILLED SPIRITS, BEER, COOLERS, WINE AND OTHER ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES MAY INCREASE CANCER RISK, AND, DURING PREGNANCY, CAN CAUSE BIRTH DEFECTS.