2024 “Darwinian Seven” Petite Sirah, LM Vineyard, Jahant, Lodi

Tasting Notes

That this Petite, out of all of the wines of the variety I’ve made from Up North, has turned out to be the best one (if a week’s time from uncorking and pouring a glass, to recorking and tasting again, matched to my wolverine-trap memory, are legitimate guides) might go counter to prejudice; the vineyard is not in the Sierra Foothills and the ABV is under 15. But it is.

Many years ago, I was judging wines made from this variety, and I came across one that had an aroma reminiscent of the aftermath of the 1954 Castle Bravo thermonuclear test, specifically the Godzilla vs Cthulhu fart contest, generally considered a draw. This wine doesn’t smell like that. It smells like black Moab cranberry syrup, which if I could admit to its existence is neither sweet nor medicinal, its secret closely guarded by Danite wolverines. It does have some fancy oak, though. And some grippy tannin, and some silky tannin. And a finish that’s longer than I’m going to write about, at least now. It may be a matter of luck, which is of course the product of ability and probability.

The Vineyard

Jahant is the smallest AVA in Lodi, and separated from the largest (Mokelumne River) to its south by a straight line that just so happens to be a semi-major two lane blacktop, another illustration of the overwhelming importance of political terroir. The two are the coolest and driest parts of Lodi, and almost equally almost flatter than an almost cooked pancake. And while his neighbors wailed and wept over the state of the market, and abandoned their vineyards to the gods (Thor, a mead snob, Bacchus’ sober cousin, and some jerk I didn’t recognize), “LM” took assiduous care of his few rows of Petite Sirah, and picked them before they were overripe. The rest is mystery!

Specs

• Alcohol: 14.7%
• TA: 6.9 g/L
• pH: 3.61

What’s Included

3-bottles:

• 3x - 2024 “Darwinian Seven” Petite Sirah, LM Vineyard, Jahant, Lodi

Case:

• 12x - 2024 “Darwinian Seven” Petite Sirah, LM Vineyard, Jahant, Lodi

Price Comparison

Not for sale on winery website, $720/case MSRP

About The Winery

• Winery: Zeppelin Winery
• Owners: Stillman Brown
• Founded: 2009
• Location: Paso Robles, CA

Zeppelin Winery is a very small producer of super premium wines, based on the Central Coast of California. Founded in 2009 by winemaker Stillman Brown of Red Zeppelin Winery and wine veteran Dan Lewis (he’s the office guy) they produce tiny lots of Syrah and other misunderstood varietals, with almost invariably insane labels. Most can only be purchased directly, but once in a while they emerge into the light of day.

Zeppelin Winery is a risibly small producer (a parking garagiste, if you valet neologisms) of super-duper* premium wines, primarily from two recently concocted sub appellations of west Paso Robles that split the hidden Hill of Graceland vineyard and currently attempting to grow two species of Vitis in Death Valley National Park.

Visitors are generally discouraged, especially if they are unlucky enough to find us. There is no tasting room. Sales are almost exclusively to our email list - there is no club to quit. And yet here we are on Casemates, as a new fan or forty is always good to have.

*Super wines that only a dupe would pass up. The term enjoyed some popularity amongst sommeliers, but was soon eclipsed by the Biodynamic lunacy, which was followed by the Natural Wine infection, which will shortly give way to a fad for - Fecal Fermentation.

Available States

AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NY, NC, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY

Estimated Delivery

Monday, Mar 9 - Tuesday, Mar 10

2024 Zeppelin Winery “Darwinian Seven” Petite Sirah
3 bottles for $94.99 $31.66/bottle + $2.67/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $339.99 $28.33/bottle + $1/bottle shipping

I wanted to post a picture!

That goes along with backhoe Ben’s description of this as a “fighting wine”

Only have one bottle of the '23 left; c’mon, this is a critical rattage. . .