Stokes' Ghost Petite Sirah 2020

James Stokes was a British sailor who jumped ship in Monterey in 1833, passing himself off as a doctor with medicine stolen from the boat. Despite killing a significant number of patients, Stokes was appointed personal physician to Governor Jose Figueroa. Within a year, the governor was dead. Stokes’ sons confronted him over his crimes and he ingested poison, falling lifeless at their feet. The adobe home in which Stokes lived still stands and every so often a man dressed in 1800s garb is seen climbing the stairs and passing through walls. TASTING NOTES: Inky and dark, this Petite Sirah is brimming with black cherries, blackberries and cassis flavors. Violet notes and hints of white pepper enchant while intense, jammy fruit stains the teeth. Stokes’ Ghost is full-bodied with balanced tannins and a finish that lingers on the palate. This rich, deep wine is just what thedoctor ordered. WINEMAKING: The Petite Sirah grapes in this wine were harvested at night in the southernmost reaches of the Monterey appellation, an ideal location for growing this dramatic, heart-stopping variety. Upon arrival to the winery, the grapes were crushed and fermented in small lots to extract the full flavors and tannin structure for which Petite Sirah is so well known. The wine was then pressed and racked at dryness for oak aging.