Surdyk’s has the good fortune to represent the wines of Fred Peterson, who has been making sustainably farmed wines from Dry Creek Valley for the past 25 years. Fred and his son Jamie use the most gentle and traditional winemaking practices to maximize the flavors, aromatics, and texture of the wines. Their 100% Sangiovese was produced from two exceptional, small plantings in Dry Creek Valley, Teldeschi and Spadoni Vineyards. As in 2010, the yields in 2011 were very low, allowing Peterson to only produce 144 cases of this exceptional wine. Aged for 19 months in neutral oak (4-10 year old barrel), the aromatics are very complex and soar from the glass: earthy, dusty, dark black fruits, baking spices, black pepper and delicate cedar notes. Bright red and black currant fruit is the star of the first taste, followed by tangy acidity and fine grained tannins. Dusty old world notes remind me of Italian Tuscan Sangiovese, yet the bright exuberant fruit mark this wine as distinctly Californian. Pairs perfectly with grilled and roasted meats (think Leg of Lamb), barbeques, and aged cheeses. -Drew Fuller