This Petite Sirah is bold and expressive, showing blackberry, blueberry, and plum with notes of preserved fruit and black pepper. It’s dense and textured yet balanced, with firm tannins and a smooth, lingering finish. The vines are now over 60-years old, which contributes to the wine’s intensity and style. Yields are extremely low off this block but worth the effort. Made by Thomas Rivers Brown, this continues to be the benchmark Petite Sirah in Napa Valley. 296 cases were made.

I was an early supporter of Switchback Ridge, back when Bob Foley was at the height of his fame—crafting some of Napa’s most sought-after wines at the time, including Pride, Paloma, Hourglass, and his own label, alongside Switchback Ridge. The vines originate from the Peterson family’s century-old ranch in the western Calistoga Palisades—land they’ve farmed since 1914. Once planted to walnuts and prunes, the property was converted to vineyard in the early 1990s under David Abreu’s meticulous direction, establishing the foundation for the quality that continues today. Now guided by winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown and viticulturist Matt Hardin, the wines reflect both the pedigree of the site and a more modern sense of balance and restraint, combining depth and structure with a natural lift. Remarkably, vintner Kelly Peterson has kept pricing steady even as peers have climbed, making these wines among Napa Valley’s most under-the-radar values.