2006 Tres Sabores "Porque No"

2006 Tres Sabores "Porque No"
Grape variety: Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, and Petite Syrah
Region: Napa Valley, California
Food pairing: Beef, lamb and mushroom kebabs
Julie Johnson is no one-trick pony, nor is her ranch on the Rutherford Benchland of Napa Valley. On her dusty California soils, Julie grows organically certified Zinfandel, Cabernet, Petite Syrah and Petite Verdot grapes, along with olives, Meyer lemons and pomegranates.

For some years, she has used the grapes to make two stellar estate wines: Rutherford Zinfandel and Rutherford Perspective Cabernet. Eight years ago, she had a few barrels of each left over, so she asked herself what would happen if she combined all the good wine she had left over from both with a little touch of Petit Verdot and Petite Syrah into one bottling. The answer was, naturally, "Porque no?" ...Why not? The spontaneity worked out well, forming a wine that's packed with black cherry and berry fruits, structured tannins from the Cab, spiciness from the Zin, and earthiness from the Petite Syrah.