1981 Windsor. Still very dark with a touch of tannin and mostly smoothed over. Loaded with black fruits and good mouthfeel. Probably at peak, took so long to get there! I find that Petite with age generally doesn’t get super complex, but does gain a little detail and smoother texture, such was the case here. A great suprise from the cellar of a late friend of a friend.
11 Likes
Awesome note! Ive had incredible luck with older PS from 'less celebrated ’ wineries in more 'difficult ’ vintages. Thanks for posting!
4 Likes
I love older Petite Sirah! My experiences with the older Windsor wines has been a little hit and miss but that’s great some are still drinking well. PS is something I usually don’t even think about drinking until 10 years old or so.
2 Likes
I just checked and I’ve actually never had a Windsor wine before. But…i do have a 1979 Rodney Strong 'Windsor Vineyard ’ cab in the cellar. No idea how that will show…but only one way to find out 
2 Likes
I think Windsor made wine from purchased grapes and sold mainly direct to consumer, often with custom labels. It’s been sold a few times, though (at least the name).
-Al
2 Likes
I think Windsor was related to Rodney Strong, It was kind of a custom label of mostly blended wines. I’ve had bottles that are labeled with a hotel name or someones wedding etc. edit: Al kind of said it all right before me.
6 Likes
Yes, it did have some connection to Rodney Strong. I also recall seeing their wines with family name labels, event labels, etc. Hadn’t heard of them in years.
But, Petite Sirah can last forever.
-Al
2 Likes
Yes, their sales gimmick was custom labels. I remember getting a solicitation phone call one day. One of my business partners bought a case. I also seem to remember that they shipped in regular cardboard wine cases, which made me nervous.
1 Like
Still is. I got a bottle of private label Merlot as a gift from a customer of mine. Came from Windsor Vineyards.
4 Likes
I believe Carol Shelton was their long time winemaker.
2 Likes
Windsor had a tasting room in Tiburon for a long time.
In the 70’s and 80’s Mendocino county had many vineyards with Petite in them. Lots of the big wineries in NapaNoma would buy it as blender…before the days of Megapurple. Its quite likely that they found a grower down on his luck and scored some great fruit.
1 Like
I have a weird Windsor wine in the cellar…had a bottle about 15yrs ago…not that good, drank more like a PS. Rodney Strong was the winemaker.
3 Likes
I think it was Nordhoff but one of the socal crew said “if you’re waiting for PS to enter the drinking window you’ll long be dead”
Enjoy it for what it is.
Had a 2013 Carlisle PS last night. A baby. Delicious.
2 Likes
Ca Burgundy = PS?
Was the Carlisle PS from Palisades Vineyard?
1 Like
Windsor 2009 Napa PS on WineBid right now.
More than likely a good amount of PS in the blend…and a whole buncha who knows what if they don’t list it on the label
Some PS, Charbono, Validigue, Early Burgundy, Zin, Mondeuse, Refosco etc. were common wines for CA Burgundy.
Don’t forget Napa Gamay (many of my older California Burgundy bottles from the 60’s and 70’s list Napa Gamay as the highest % in the blend), pinot noir, cabernet sauvignon, and merlot. Honestly…feels like almost ‘anything goes’ with the CA Burgundy from back then…and I’m 1000% here for it
1 Like