Lot Overview
- Region: 100% Calistoga District (Peterson Family Vineyard, eastern alluvials off Silverado Trail)
- Vintage: 2024
- Varietal: 98% Petite Sirah, 2% Cabernet Franc
- Oak Aging: ~35% new French oak, light and medium toast
- Alcohol: 15.0%
- Cases Available: ~150
- Cam Price: Not stated
- Retail Estimate: $75/bottle
- Claude’s Source Guess: Switchback Ridge — Peterson Family Vineyard Petite Sirah
- Wine Berserkers Guess: Vermeil Frediani
- Drink Window: 2026–2040 (peak 2028–2035)
Cameron’s Release Notes
Hailing from a $75/bottle, single-vineyard designated Calistoga District program located in the eastern alluvials just north of the St. Helena border, this Petite Sirah is produced from 40-50 year old vines. Aged in 35% new mix of light and medium-toast French oak barrels, it delivers fantastic vibrancy and energy to a deep, delicious wine. I paid as much for this wine as many a 2023 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon — winemaking loves PS as a blender so we just had to have it.
Tasting Notes
Squid ink in the glass, totally glass-staining opaque with an electric purple rim. Boisterous bouquet of boysenberry pie, blueberry syrup lifted with fresh raspberry puree and anchored with black forest cake. Super compelling and fresh, especially when marzipan and bergamot notes come out with air. Remarkably supple on entry with a super-sexy, energetic structure delivering complex, precise raspberry fruit complexed with blueberry syrup and chocolate cake notes. Succulent and seamless across the palate with a lengthy, resounding finish — tremendous verve and energy. Drinks surprisingly well now.
✅ Bottle Shock Status: Drinking well now per Cam.
Claude’s Source Guess: Switchback Ridge — Peterson Family Vineyard Petite Sirah, Calistoga
Switchback Ridge is a near-perfect fit for every clue Cam provides. The Peterson family has farmed their Calistoga property since 1914 — over 110 years and four generations — making them the epitome of an “old winemaking family.” Their estate sits off the Silverado Trail at the mouth of Dutch Henry Canyon, in the eastern alluvial benchland just north of the St. Helena AVA border, matching Cam’s geographic description precisely. Their old vine Petite Sirah block was planted in 1956, putting those vines at 68 years old and well within Cam’s “40-50 year old vines” description.
Switchback’s Petite Sirah has been priced at exactly $75/bottle across the 2021, 2022, and 2023 vintages, and typical production runs 150-280 cases — exactly Cam’s 150 case lot. Winemaker Bob Foley (Pride Mountain) and their association with Thomas Rivers Brown’s Royal We tasting collective both bring high-end credibility to the program. Cam’s note that “winemaking loves PS as a blender” is consistent with Switchback’s own description of how their old vine PS contributes to blending programs throughout Napa.
The 2% Cab Franc in Cam’s blend is a minor variation from Switchback’s typical 100% PS, which could reflect a small co-fermentation addition in the 2024 vintage or a specific barrel lot Cam received.
✅ Confidence: Very High — $75 retail confirmed across multiple vintages, Peterson family estate since 1914, eastern Calistoga alluvials location, old vine Petite Sirah block from 1956, and 150-case production scale all align precisely.
Drink Window
Early: 2026 — Cam says it’s drinking well now, and Petite Sirah from a warm 2024 vintage is more approachable than usual.
Peak: 2028–2035. Old vine Calistoga PS typically peaks 4–10 years from vintage.
Hold: 2040. The density and structure give this excellent long-term potential.
My Call: ✅ Drink window: 2026–2040 (peak 2028–2035)