Knockout Reviews

A firm and juicy red with blueberry and dark-chocolate character. Wet earth. Flavorful and intense. Layered and velvety. Petite sirah and cabernet sauvignon. 

The 2017 Knockout Red checks in as 61% Petite Sirah and 39% Cabernet Sauvignon from west St. Helena and Rutherford that spent 18-20 months in 36% new French oak. It offers a huge nose of brambly herbs, spice, pepper, and incense-laced red, blue, and black fruits. Ripe, full-bodied, and powerful on the palate, it’s a sexy beast of a wine and not for those craving lightweight aromas and flavors. Nevertheless, it’s beautifully balanced and holds onto a sense of elegance. It’s going to keep for 10-15 years, probably longer.

The 2017 Knockout is made up of 61% Petite Sirah and 39% Cabernet Sauvignon. It was aged in 36% new French oak and bottled without fining or filtration. Deep purple-black in color, it needs a little coaxing to unleash the barrage of tightly bound aromas waiting to explode: blackberry pie, blueberry preserves, spice cake, chocolate-covered cherries and star anise with suggestions of raspberry pie, mulberries and a provocative incense perfume. Full-bodied, rich and seductive in the mouth, the palate is not shy on structure, with firm, plush cushioning the long and layered finish.

Another wine that’s not yet bottled, the 2016 Knockout Red checks in as 60% Petite Sirah and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon that’s brought up in 70% new barrels. This sexy beast of a wine gives up tons of black fruits, peppery herbs, new saddle leather, and earthy goodness in its full-bodied, ripe, yet balanced profile. It’s another terrific wine from winemaker Stephanie Putnam that delivers the goods.

A blend of 60% Petite Sirah and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon aged 20 months in 70% new French oak, the 2016 Proprietary Red Knockout is deep purple-black in color and scented of mocha and baked black and blue fruits with suggestions of earth and fruitcake. The palate is full-bodied, rich, concentrated, firm and chewy, finishing long and layered. This needs time, for sure, but give it a good 4-5 years in the cellar and, as the name promises, it will be a knockout! 78 cases produced.

Super-ripe black cherry, crème de cassis, sweet French oak, graphite, licorice and mint infuse Jean-Charles Boisset's 2015 Knockout. Powerful and ample, with considerable aromatic nuance, the 2015 has a lot going on. It will be even better in a few years, once the tannins soften.

A blend of 67% Petite Sirah and 33% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2015 Proprietary Red Knockout has an opaque purple-black color and nose of baked plums and blackberry preserves with spice box, violets, licorice and sandalwood. Full, rich and concentrated in the mouth with a firm, chewy texture, it's long, layered and quite earthy on the finish. Only 78 cases produced.