Then & Now: A Decade of Howell Moutain Petite Sirah

Every so often, a release gives us the chance to show something you can only see with time. This fall, two of our members-only wines were made a full decade apart: the 2017 "Elevation" Petite Sirah and a small library allocation of our 2007 "Park Muscatine" Petite Sirah. Both come from Howell Mountain, and opened side by side, they tell a story about what patience does to a wine.

These aren't the same bottling ten years apart. One is a single-vineyard wine, the other our "Elevation." But they share the same mountain, the same grape, and the same approach in the cellar. Think of them as two snapshots of one place, taken ten years apart.

Why Petite Sirah rewards patience

Petite Sirah is one of the most age-worthy grapes grown in California. It's known for deep color, dark fruit, and firm tannins, and Howell Mountain adds its own intensity. The vineyards sit above the valley fog, where thin volcanic soils and long sunny days produce small berries with concentrated flavor and structure.

That structure is what lets these wines age. In youth, the tannins give the wine grip and power. Over the years, they soften and knit together, the fruit shifts from fresh and dark toward something more savory and layered, and the color slowly moves from inky purple toward garnet and brick.

The 2017 "Elevation": now

At nine years old, the 2017 sits at an exciting point. It has had time to settle, but it still carries the energy and fruit of a younger wine. It's a wine to enjoy now with a hearty meal, and it has the structure to keep developing in your cellar for years to come.

The 2007 "Park Muscatine": then

Nearly two decades on, the 2007 shows where that journey leads. Expect a wine that has traded some of its youthful power for depth and complexity. This is a bottle for slowing down, letting it open in the glass, and noticing how it changes over the evening.

How to taste them together

If you can, open both on the same night. Pour a small glass of each, start with the 2017, then move to the 2007 and back again. Compare the color, the aromas, and how the tannins feel. It's one of the best ways to understand what time does to a wine.

Opening a library bottle

Older wines need a little extra care. A few tips:

• Stand it up. Set the bottle upright for a day or two before opening so the sediment settles to the bottom.
• Mind the cork. Older corks can be fragile. Go slowly, or use a two-pronged opener if you have one.
• Decant gently. Pour slowly into a decanter and stop when you see sediment reach the neck. Older wines don't need long in the decanter, so taste as you go.
• Serve slightly cool. Around 60–65°F lets the aromas show without the alcohol taking over.

What to cook

The 2017 can stand up to rich, hearty dishes like braised short ribs, a grilled ribeye, or a slow-cooked lamb shoulder. The 2007 is better suited to more delicate, savory flavors: mushroom risotto, roast duck, or a simple board of aged cheeses.

However you open them, we hope these two wines give you a chance to taste a little of the mountain's story. Cheers!