Keplinger, 'Sumo - Shake Ridge Ranch', Amador County, California, 2021

 Overview of the Winery
"In 2004, I moved to the Priorat region in Spain to start the winery for a group of partners who had purchased a vineyard there. Over the next three years of living there full-time and then traveling back and forth from Napa Valley, I became steeped in the culture, lifestyle, food and wines.

My husband, DJ, visited me often and we traveled throughout southern France, the Languedoc, and the Rhone. We became even bigger fans of the regional wines, as well as the complete Mediterranean way of life – the kitchen gardens, local fresh food, anything slathered in olive oil and sprinkled with sea salt – all of which are enhanced by the delicious, food-friendly wines. These wines and ideals are a big part of our lives in Napa, so it was only natural to begin our wine project with California Grenache and Syrah, and vineyards that would allow them to touch their full potential.

Great wine is only possible from great vineyards – we select vineyards, farm grapes, and make wine by this mantra.

At our core, we are wine lovers, and we thoroughly enjoy the process of seeking out exceptional vineyards ideal for a specific varietal, and farming for the highest quality. We sweat the details with pleasure – focusing on small quantities made from small wine lots, respecting and responding to the uniqueness of each site and year. Working hard but with finesse, we believe in gentle winemaking to create wines of balance and complexity that are true to their varietal and speak of their terroir and provenance."

- Helen Keplinger and DJ Warner

Grape / Blend
83% petite sirah, 10% syrah and 7% viognier

Origin
Amador County, California

Winemaker Tasting Notes
Sumo is a Cote Rotie twist on Petite Sirah - Petite Sirah co-fermented with Viognier, and blended with a small amount of Syrah. The 2021 Sumo is a blend of 83% Petite Sirah, 11% Syrah, and 6% Viognier, all from the rocky, volcanic, impeccably-and-organically-farmed Shake Ridge Vineyard. The Petite comes from three blocks, one is 80% rock and produces small, thick-skinned berries with intense aromatics and dense structure. The second Petite block also has very rocky soil with a western exposure - the berries are ever so slightly larger and the skins slightly thinner (remember this is still Petite!), bringing a juicy elegance to the blend. The third Petite block is at the bottom of a north-facing block, and is all about vibrant, fresh fruit - the lifter of the trio. The 2021 Sumo is a beautiful wine of both power and grace. The nose is dense with aromas of intense blackberry, heady white flowers, black peppercorn, bittersweet chocolate, juniper berry, and lead pencil. The entry is silky, dense, and rich - deftly balanced with perfect symmetry of sweet and savory components. Toothsome fine tannins line the palate from start to finish, with intense flavors of bittersweet chocolate, graphite, blackberry bramble and juniper lingering beyond the long finish. This wine would best be cellared for 6 months, then can be enjoyed in the near and long term. 175 cases produced. 

95 Points - Vinous
The 2021 Sumo is quite the powerhouse. Super-ripe black cherry, plum, chocolate, graphite, crushed rocks, licorice, juniper berry ad dried herbs all run through this potent, tannic Petite Sirah-based wine. A touch of Viognier adds an aromatic presence. This is another impeccable wine from Helen Keplinger.

94 Points- James Suckling 
Lots of blackberries, black olives, green olives and spices such as cloves. Full-bodied with lots of fruit and richness. It shows a rather muscular nature that indeed suggest a wrestler of sorts. Touch of heat at the end. A blend of 83% petite sirah, 10% syrah and 7% viognier. 

94 Points - Jeb Dunnuck
I'm always amazed at the quality of the Sierra Foothills releases from Keplinger, and her 2021 Sumo is a prime example. This deep, rich, full-bodied effort has tons of black fruits, smoked herbs, leather, and violet notes in a concentrated, expansive, opulent style that just begs to be drunk. A Petite Sirah-heavy blend, it should keep for 7-8 years.

Product size: 750ml