Ray Coursen, winemaker and owner at Elyse Winery in Napa Valley, California, tells a great story of how he moved to California from the East Coast, with the dream of learning to make wine. Four years later, after working in every aspect of the the wine-making process, he and his wife Nancy started Elyse Winery (named after his daughter - or was it the other way around?).

Ray makes wine "that I want to sit down and enjoy – juicy, rich, voluptuous wines. I like a little oak, but I don’t want it to be overpowering – I want to taste the fruit. I love wines that pair well with food. A meal without wine is eating; a meal with wine is dining – it’s a conversation, an event. It’s what wine is about."

The 2005 Rutherford Petite Sirah is textbook deep, blackish purple in color with complex aromas of violets, lavender, smoke, black cherry, and cola, with hints of , cedar and sage. Flavors of blueberry, kirsch, mocha and hints of pepper and spice lead to a long pleasing finish of dusty cocoa tannins that tease the palate with texture. It is a rich, lush, full-bodied wine that’s sweet fruit carries the firm tannins and leads to a long lingering finish.

Food Pairing Suggestions

This deep dark wine supports those hearty cold-weather dishes like roasted pork tenderloin, wild game, and potato gratins with Gruyere or any strong cheese.