The Peterson Family at Harvest Time
Winemaker Jamie Peterson grew up in wine country, born in the Santa Cruz Mountains where his father, Fred, was vineyard manager at Mount Eden Winery and later Ridge Vineyards. Later, the family moved to Sonoma County where Jamie joined his father in the vineyards of Sonoma County. In the 1980s, Fred Peterson cleared and planted the 16-acre, dry-farmed Mountain Estate Vineyard on the 1264’ high Bradford Mountain, an ancient, uplifted ocean floor where the soils are red clay, the days sunny, and the nights are cool. Grape skins are thicker, berries are smaller, and yields are lower than they are on valley floor vineyards. The Petersons also source fruit from elsewhere, but all the wines reviewed in this article are from Bradford, which accounts for about 40 percent of the total six thousand case production.
Winemaker Jamie Peterson
Fred Peterson launched the Peterson Winery in 1987. While he still manages the vineyard, in 2006 he turned over winemaking responsibilities to Jamie. Jamie studied winemaking at UC Davis and Sonoma State and worked harvests in Australia and New Zealand as well as California. He describes his winemaking philosophy (and that of the winery) as zero manipulation, which means traditional, non-interventionist winemaking. We find the wines to be very flavorful and fresh; even the ripest wines (the grapes come from 5 different vintages) have good acidity.
The Peterson Winery and tasting room are located just off Dry Creek Road, about 1.5 miles beyond the Dry Creek General Store.
The Wines
Peterson 2022 3V White Wine Blend Bradford Mountain Vineyard Dry Creek Valley ($28) 91 The white blend is a unique mix of Vermentino, Vernaccia and Verdelho. The wine is reserved and serious, opening with scents of citrus and herbs. On the palate, it’s dry with flavors of pear, melon and appealing hints of lychee and minerals. There’s an attractive grip as well as lingering extract on the finish. Made of all estate fruit fermented and aged in stainless steel. 13.7% alc.
Peterson 2017 Agraria Big Barn Red Dry Creek Valley ($60) 92 This red blend reveals real Cabernet Franc character. The nose shows ripe dark red berries along with a leafy earthiness. It’s full in the mouth with rich black raspberry, boysenberry and plum flavors, again accented with earthy herbs. A pre-harvest heat spike gave this wine its high alcohol. The concentrated fruit handles the high alcohol well, although there’s some heat on the palate. A blend of 78% Cabernet Franc, 11% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Petit Verdot. Aged 27 months in 75% new French oak. pH 3.54, 15.7% alc.
Peterson 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Dry Creek Valley ($48) 92 Dark ruby. Penetrating nose of crème de cassis, dark cherry and a hint of tea leaf. Supple and full on the palate with plum and cassis fruit and rich extract on a persistent finish. A particularly suave Cabernet Sauvignon, it’s the La Questa selection that Martin Ray had planted on Mount Eden. A blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, and 3% Cabernet Franc. Aged 26 months in 33% new French oak barrels. pH 3.30, 14.5% alc.
Peterson 2019 Carignane Dry Creek Valley ($36) 93 Bright, rich, dark red fruit on the nose with notes of wild herbs and peppery spice. Smooth on entry with good body and firm, mouthwatering acidity. Overall, delicious and well made. A blend of 75% Carignane and 25% Mourvèdre sourced from the estate vineyard and matured 25 months in used French oak. pH 3.48, 15.1% alc. In the past, Jamie Peterson has also made an Old Vine Carignane from the Forchini Vineyard. I’ve tasted some exceptionally good old vine Carignane in South Africa, so I hope to taste the Forchini Carignane one day.
Peterson 2018 Cuvée Rusé Dry Creek Valley ($40) 94 This is a delightful Grenache-based red blend showing fresh red berries along with red cherry and plum aromas and flavors. The flavors are bright and copious, but it’s the suave and silky palate that we really like. The wine glides through the mouth finishing with ripe, moderate tannins. A blend of 50% Grenache, 25% Mourvèdre, 13% Syrah and 12% Carignane from the Bradford Mountain Estate Vineyard aged 25 months in 20% new French oak. 14% alc. A bargain at the price.
Peterson 2019 Malbec Dry Creek Valley ($40) 92 Saturated dark red. Bouquet of black and purple berries with a cherry accent. Plush and lush on a full-bodied palate with a liqueur like texture, finishing with round tannins. A delicious, big wine that’s especially easy to drink. Sourced from the estate vineyard and matured 25 months in 50% new French oak. pH 3.56, 14.6% alc.
Peterson 2019 Petit Verdot Dry Creek Valley ($40) 94 Aromas of ripe black fruit, cassis and a note of graphite. Silky in the mouth, quite seductive. Dense fruit on the palate. Creamy, long and delicious. One of Peterson’s most elegant wines. A blend of 75% Petit Verdot, 17% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 8% Malbec sourced from the estate vineyards. Aged 25 months in 33% new French oak. pH 3.55, 14.2% alc.
Peterson 2020 Primitivo Dry Creek Valley ($42) 93 This is a Zinfandel made from Italy’s Primitivo clone. It’s darker fruited and more firmly structured than the Dry Creek Zinfandel attributable in part to the high percentage of new French oak used for aging. Dark cherry, blackberry and peppery spices all put in an appearance on a pure, silky palate. As with other Peterson wines, the mouthfeel is what makes this wine special. We like the long, flavorful finish, too. Sourced from the Bradford Mountain Estate Vineyard and matured 25 months in 50% new French oak. 15.3% alc.
Peterson 2019 Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley ($42) 92 Medium red. Sourced from five different Dry Creek vineyards, this wine is in effect an appellation Zinfandel. It opens with expressive aromas of fresh and dried cherry with complicating notes of briary fruit and underbrush. The palate is soft, balanced and juicy with a continuation of cherry, plum, and peppery spice flavors. Persistent finish with savory notes. A blend of 88% Zinfandel sourced from five Dry Creek Valley Vineyard plus 4% each of Petite Sarah, Carignane, and Grenache aged 25 months in a mix of 20% new American and Hungarian oak and 80% used barrels. 14.7% alc.
Note: Photos provided by Peterson Winery.
