Joseph Swan, “Bastoni Vineyards” Petite Sirah

When I think of Joseph Swan wines I think of finesse. This goes not just for the estate’s Pinot Noirs (there is, of course, a clone of Pinot Noir named for the legendary Mr. Swan) but for all their many offerings—including those from grapes not widely known for their finesse. Today we have one of the most singular Petite Sirahs I’ve ever tasted, sourced from the same vineyard that graces the label of one of the most singular Zinfandels I’ve ever tasted.Perhaps you, too, have tasted Swan’s iconic “Bastoni Vineyard” Zinfandel. It is in much wider circulation than their Bastoni Vineyard Petite Sirah, the wine on offer today, for a simple reason: there’s much more Zinfandel planted there! This is one of California’s great heritage vineyards, originally planted by Italian immigrants in the early 1900s, and, three generations later, it’s still in family hands. There’s only a small amount of Petite Sirah in the modern-day Bastoni Vineyard, sprinkled amidst the Zinfandel for blending purposes,