Peltier Station Lodi Appellation Petite Sirah 2009

Once again Peltier Station has fashioned award winning wine in the 2009 Peltier Station Lodi Petite Sirah. Grown in a vineyard in the Lodi Appellation of South Sacramento County, where hot sunny days are tempered by the Delta Breeze, Petite Sirah truly thrives. The 2009 vintage yielded an intense Petite Sirah that has mellowed to perfection with bottle age. Still sporting a deep purple robe the 2009 Peltier Station Petite Sirah offers a seductive bouquet of blackberry jam, cedar, forest woodlands, and tasty hints of spice. In the mouth, the 2009 Peltier Station Petite Sirah caresses the palate with lush fruit and woodland flavors that fill the mouth and tantalize the taste buds, with nary a tannic edge. Maturity has tamed the heat and alcohol in this concentrated wine and rendered a delightful warmth and complexity – the glory of the finest Petite Sirah wines. A balanced effort and well-integrated tannins make the 2009 Peltier Station Petite Sirah a delight to drink now. For optimal enjoyment we suggest affording this mature Petite Sirah 15-20 minutes of aeration before serving it at a cool temperature (60º-64º F). Enjoy!

As a mature, full-bodied red wine the 2009 Peltier Station Lodi Petite Sirah provides the ideal complement to both simple stick-to-your-ribs kinds of foods as well as more sophisticated fare. Slow cooked barbecued baby back ribs, rich stews, hearty pastas, grilled Italian sausages and peppers, and game all provide excellent choices to complement Peltier Station’s Petite Sirah. Venison tenderloin, served in a savory brown sauce; pressed duck, prepared with a blackberry glaze; and Flat Iron Steak topped with balsamic caramelized onions and Brie cheese and served over collard greens or broccoli rabe with garlic mashed potatoes all offer savory, full-flavored choices to pair with JC van Staden’s premier Petite Sirah. Italian favorites, such as manicotti, spaghetti with meat balls, or a heady antipasto with smoked meats and hard cheeses, offer other fine choices. On a lighter, more sophisticated note, veal medallions sautéed with a bit of butter, white wine and fresh herbs offer the Peltier Station Petite Sirah the opportunity to highlight its maturity and refinement.

Looking west, one can imagine the old grape packing sheds that once graced the tracks alongside Peltier Road. From the nearby station, thousands of tons of purple and white grapes departed in the “old days” for local wineries and the cellars of countless home winemakers. Today, the burgeoning Lodi appellation is undergoing a renaissance and Peltier Station is creating an enviable portfolio of premium wines from the grapes which were once shipped eastward via the rusty old railroad tracks. Owned and run by Rodney and Gayla Schatz, Peltier Station (soon to be renamed Peltier Winery) has become one of the brightest stars to shine in the resuscitated Lodi Appellation.

Rodney and Gayla Schatz began Peltier Station Winery in 2002 with their first crush at the winery. They grow grapes and produce wine for numerous well-known wineries, both large and small. In addition, they craft a small number of cases under their own name, with their most notable wines being Cabernet Sauvignon, Petite Sirah, Viognier, Zinfandel, and a stunning Teroldego from a tiny two acre plot of old vines. Rodney Schatz hails from a tradition of grape growing families. His grandparents on both sides (the Marengo and Schatz families) were established growers in the 1950s, and Rodney and his wife, Gayla, have expanded on that tradition. In addition to cultivating some of Lodi’s finest fruit, Rodney and Gayla make their own wine from estate-grown grapes with the help of JC van Staden, a gifted South African winemaker.

JC van Staden brings both tremendous talent and a multitude of experiences from growing up on a farm in South Africa and subsequently from working with numerous prominent wineries in South Africa, France, and the United States to hone his craft, all before coming to Peltier Station. JC’s wines have earned Peltier Station numerous accolades and awards, including Gold Medal, Best of Class, and Best of Region winner awards at the prestigious California State Fair Wine Competition. He has been making wine at Peltier Station since the 2005 vintage. From our experience, Petite Sirah and the estate’s rare Teroldego varietal should not be missed.