2019 Madrigal Family Winery Petite Sirah Napa Valley 750 ml

Cabernet dominates the headlines, but the most knowledgeable, dyed-in-the-wool Napa Valley wine lovers have always been (and will always be) nuts about Petite Sirah. The grape is synonymous with old-vine, deeply concentrated wines—and the dark, bold, luscious 2019 Madrigal Family Winery Petite Sirah harks back to the time when it ruled the Napa Valley roost. 

Like Petite Sirah, the producers of this wine have deep ties to Napa history: Jacinto Madrigal crossed the border from Mexico to work in Napa’s agricultural industry back in 1938, when the valley bore little resemblance to today's wine empire. Back then, diverse crops shared space with scattered vineyards, and the Madrigals were among the first Mexican families in the upper valley. 

Jacinto's arrival marked the beginning of his family’s transition from laborers to landowners. His son Jess Madrigal spent decades building the vineyard business through the 1980s, farming approximately 800 acres and teaching his son Chris about soil, weather, and timing.

When Chris finally made the leap into winemaking, he started modestly, with Petite Sirah purchased from a family friend in 1995. The year before, the family had acquired what would become their estate vineyard, buying the 40-acre Alluvial Vineyard from the legendary Dan Duckhorn. It was a site they’d farmed for years for the Duckhorn label. 

In 2007, the Madrigals built their own winery, and by 2013, they’d been named to the “Top 10 Wineries for Napa Insiders” by California Winery Advisor. In the outstanding 2019 vintage, they produced this Petite Sirah that absolutely blew us away when we tasted it. It’s a stunner that will remind you of why the grape still deserves regal status in Napa Valley.