2023 Punch Winery Napa Valley Red Blend

Happy Saturday!  Today was Graduation at Saint Maty's College and I have so many emotions as I saw some of my dearest young ladies step forward to become the prominent leaders of women in business, I feel pride, anxiety and joy as I know they will make my accomplishments look small in comparison to what they will do, but for now I will celebrate with them with a bottle of wine and a great meal!  Tonight, I have opened a bottle of wine that is a recent purchase from Wines Till Sold Out.  The 2023 Punch Winery Napa Valley Red Blend is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Petite Sirah, Zinfandel, Merlot, all harvested from the Napa Valley AVA of California.  Let's see what this wine has to offer!

The wine is a deep ruby in the glass, just as you'd expect from a Napa Valley blend.  The nose presents aromas of blackberry, raspberry compote and toasted oak, just as you'd expect from the Valley.  The first sip is a rush of black fruit that eases into some earthy notes of dusty limestone, toasted oak and spicy pepper midpalate,  The tannins are well structured and vibrant, lending a firmness to the long, smooth dry finish that lingers until your next sip.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's an excellent red blend comparable to those of Bordeaux, but easily approachable.  This wine would pair well with a range of grilled steaks, braised short ribs, or grilled rack of lamb.  Tonight, I am enjoying this wine with a rare grilled porterhouse with some grilled asparagus. Cheers! 

2017 True Grit Reserve Petite Sirah

Well, anyone that knows me is well aware that I am a big fan of the Duke, John Wayne, which of course means that I could never pass up a wine with "True Grit" on the label.  So as I was browsing the wines at Costco this weekend I had to pick up a bottle of 2017 True Grit Reserve Petite Sirah from Parducci Wines.  This Mendocino County California wine represents what is truly interesting to me of the California wine scene outside of Napa - interesting varietals with interesting terroir!  So let's see what this wine has to offer!

The wine is a deep, inky black at the center, with bright ruby along the edges, characteristic of a nice Petite Sirah (which as I always say, seems to be neither petite nor Syrah).  The nose presents a cascade of aromas, blackberry, cherry amid wild game notes that exude a sense of pioneering wonder.  The taste is an absolute rush of cool black fruit, blackberry, blueberry and plum that envelop the palate before transitioning to some notes of dark chocolate and while pepper spice midpalate.  The tannins are very chewy, providing nice backbone for the long, smooth and very dry finish that lingers on the palate.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just a pleasure to sip and would give any big Cabernet a run for it's money when it comes to food pairing.  This wine was also a terrific value at just under $14 at Costco (I think I might need to get some more!).  As for pairing, this wine practically begs for steak, but would also do well with hearty pastas, braised short ribs of hearty chili on a cold fall evening.  Tonight I can oblige with a rare grille petit Angus porterhouse with grilled leeks and asparagus.  Cheers!

2012 Orin Swift Abstract

Happy Saturday!  I spent much of my day at a Board meeting in Chicago, so of course that meant a quick stop at Eataly before heading home (more on that later on in this post!) and now I'm ready for a nice glass of wine.  Tonight I've opened a bottle that I found in the cellar recently, I remember buying it but don't remember drinking it, hence I've opened it tonight, the 2012 Orin Swift Abstract.  This wine is a Rhone style blend of primarily Grenache, Petite Sirah and Syrah from Napa, Sonoma and Mendocino Counties in California.  I find that Orin Swift produces some interesting blends, so let's see what this one has to offer.

The wine is a deep inky color at the center with bright ruby along the edges that reminds me more of a Cabernet than a Grenache heavy blend, no doubt a nod to the Petite Sirah in the blend.  The nose is chock full of blackberry, plum and some wonderful dried sage.  The taste is a rush of black cherry, plum and kirsch that transitions nicely to some notes of black tea and dark chocolate midpalate.  The tannins are soft but well structured, providing for a lingering and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a lovely blend that would resonate with anyone that appreciates the art of getting varietals to play well together.  It was also a very good value at just $30.  This wine would pair well with steaks and chops, barbecue or pasta, but tonight I've gone down south and am pairing this with a pan-seared, cajun spiced veal loin chop, some red beans and rice and steamed asparagus.  The wine is just a great combination with the spice and wonderful earthy flavor of the veal.  Cheers!

Snooth Murrieta's Well Virtual Tasting

Well, tonight is another wonderful Snooth.com virtual wine tasting featuring wines from Murrieta's Well Estate Vineyard located in the Livermore Valley of California.  The virtual tasting was curated by their winemaker, Robbie Meyer, who struck me as being very down to earth and truly connected to vineyards and someone that treat winemaking more as an art than a science.  In listening to him speak about the vineyards, vines and the wines, he reminded me of some of the wonderful wine craftsmen of the Northwest, like Chuck Reininger, who let their passion shine through their wines.  Overall a pleasure to listen and interact with such a wonderful artist!

We tasted through the wines is a somewhat quixotic order, but I've organized my tasting notes putting the white wines first, followed by the rose and then the reds.

2015 The Whip, a blend of Sauvignon Blanc (30%), Semillion (30%), Chardonnay (30%), Viognier (7%) and Muscat Canelli (3%) - Very nice aromas, notes of flowers, mild citrus and some marked mineral notes, very nice use of the Viognier and Semillion really come through on the nose.  Taste is a perfect summer food wine, I could easily sip this in the patio with some hummus or enjoy with a light summer dinner.

2016 Muscat Canelli (100%) - Pineapple, papaya, white floral, lovely crisp refreshing white, perfect for summer.

2016 Dry Rose, a blend of Grenache (55%) and Cournoise (45%) - Farmed to be a rose, canopy management, picking, to give a great fruit/floral expression.  Lovely floral notes on the nose, peach, apricot and some mineral notes.  Crisp acidity and a very nice, dry finish.  Would be great with cedar planked Coho Salmon filet.

2014 Spur, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (45%), Petite Sirah (22%), Petit Verdot (14%), Merlot (10%) and Cabernet Franc (9%) - Some may group this wine with a Bordeaux style blend, but the addition of Petite Sirah really makes a difference and places it outside the traditional Bordeaux Blends (it also makes a big difference in the taste of the wine, bringing in more fruit.  Nose just makes me want to drink this wine immediately.  Aromas of leather, smoke, oak, warm spice, lovely black fruit, blackberries, cherries.and some notes of dried fig.  Lovely fruit up front, lovely mineral and smoke notes midpalate.  Wonderfully dry, velvety finish.  This was absolutely my favorite of the wines we tasted, and would pair well with a big grilled steak any day of the week!

2014 Cabernet Franc, a blend of Cabernet Franc (88%), Cabernet Sauvignon (6%) and Petit Verdot (6%) - Great earthy nose, white pepper spice, perfect for a chilly autumn evening in front of a fire.  Great with pasta, perhaps with a creamy white sauce, would also be wonderful with a more mellow fish dish, perhaps a halibut steak.

2014 Merlot, a blend of Merlot (90%), Cabernet Sauvignon (7%) and Petit Verdot (3%) - you know I love me some Merlot and this one was a standout!  Notes of cinnamon and ripe blackberry on the nose, wonderful black fruit and spice midpalate.  Midpalate some notes of cocoa, mocha and vanilla bean come through.  The finish is smooth and very dry, well structured tannins on the backbone, pure Merlot joy!

Finally, I would like to extend my sincerest thanks to Snooth.com and Murrieta's Well for sponsoring this wonderful tasting, it was a real treat!

2013 Edwards & Chaffey Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

All right, I made it home from work, filled the bird feeder and pulled a few dandelions, so now it's time to relax with a glass of wine.  Tonight I've decided to open up another bottle I bought from the Wines Till Sold Out Napa Valley Marathon a few weeks ago, the 2013 Edwards & Chaffey Reserve Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (98%) mainly from the Oakville and Mount Veeder AVAs, balanced with a bit of Petite Sirah and Cabernet Franc.  So let's see how it tastes!

The wine is a deep, brooding indigo in the glass, with nice garnet around the edges.  The nose is a classic Napa Valley Cabernet with aromas of leather, blackberry, mocha and baking spice.  The taste is quite nice, with a rush of black fruit up front, blackberry, cherry and a bit of blueberry that transitions nicely to some mocha and spice notes midpalate.  The finish is lovely, with well integrated tannins supporting the long, smooth dry finish that surprises you with a bit of cherry cola at the end.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's a really pleasant drinking Cabernet at a value price of just $20.  This would be another classic Napa steak wine, and tonight I'm enjoying this wine with a grilled London broil made from a coffee rubbed flank steak I picked up this weekend at Trader Joe's, along with some wild rice and green beans with sliced almonds.  The wine just perfectly accents the rich flavors of the meat, cheers!

2010 Long Meadow Ranch Bootstrap Napa Valley Red Wine

Happy Wine Wednesday!  Hump day is always a reason to celebrate and when you bring a bottle of wine even more so!   Tonight I've decided to open a bottle I recently purchased from Wines Till Sold Out on their Napa Valley marathon, what's not to like about red wine from Napa?  The 2010 Long Meadow Ranch Bootstrap Napa Valley Red Wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (62%), Sangiovese (21%) and Petite Sirah (17%), so let's see what this one has to offer!

The wine is a deep ruby color in the glass, somewhat lighter than the typical Cabernet which isn't surprising given the addition of Sangiovese.  The nose is a rush of minerality, with some notes of dusty limestone and leather intermingled with some ripe cherry and notes of green pepper.  The taste is a rush of ripe berries and cherry cola that linger on the tongue, followed by some mineral and spice notes midpalate.  The finish is quite nice, with well structured tannins providing for a long, smooth and very dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, it's a very pleasant drinking wine at a decent price of just $25.  This wine would pair will with a variety of hearty Italian dishes, from linguine with mussels to a classic baked ziti, but tonight I am enjoying this wine with a simple dinner of prime ribeye grilled rare with some grilled Brussels sprouts and organic rainbow carrots.  The wine really complements the richness of the carrots and the heartiness of the steak.  Cheers!

2012 Flegenheimer Bros. Reserve Red Wine

Happy Sunday!  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle of wine that my boss gave me last year, and although I really liked it for the label, soon after reading the label I was hopelessly confused!  The 2012 Flegenheimer Bros. Reserve Red Wine has a label that exudes late 19th century Americana, complete with American flags and shield, a lovely lady holding up a glass of wine seated next to some wine barrels, but this particular wine is made from Shiraz (85%) and Petite Sirah grown in the McLaren Vale of South Australia!  Hence you can see my confusion.  As it turns out, the family history of the winemaker goes back to a wine import and distribution business that was established in New York City back in 1876 which thrived until prohibition.  The family is now in Australia making wine, and the reserve red was paired with an old trade card that dates back to 1890.  So there we have it, wine and history, a fabulous combination, now let's see how the wine tastes!

The wine is a very deep, inky indigo color in the glass, much darker than many mass market Shiraz.  The nose is a pleasant combination of ripe black fruit, blackberry, cherry and plum interlaced with some earthy notes of leather and clay.  The taste is wonderfully fruit forward, with a rush of jammy black fruit at the outset that transitions smoothly to some spice notes midpalate.  The finish is nice, though rather brief, with a lingering of ripe fruit with some tart cherry notes as well.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, as it's a very pleasant and easy drinking wine.  It would pair well with lamb, roasts or wild game, or just as a pleasant sipping wine to enjoy in the evening as I am doing tonight.  Cheers!

1999 Teldeschi Dry Creek Valley Petite Sirah

Happy Saturday!  Well, it's the first Saturday of November which means it's time to raid the stash for something a bit more mature to celebrate "Cellar Saturday"!  Tonight I've opened a bottle that I bought a little while ago that I've really been looking forward to, the 1999 Teldeschi Dry Creek Valley Petite Sirah.  I love Petite Sirah, because it's neither petite nor syrah, so I'm anxious to taste this one.  I'm also fascinated by the history of this winery, founded by Frank Teldeschi who emigrated to California from Italy, like so many other great California wine makers.  Frank's 70 acres in the Dry Creek Valley were planted primarily with Zinfandel (another favorite) and through that connection, he had a hand in helping Ravenswood (another favorite winery) establish itself as a premier Zin producer back in the 1980s.  But enough history, let's get to the wine!

I opened the bottle carefully (cork and age can be fickle friends) and then decanted it for about an hour.  The wine is a rich, inky black at the center with bright ruby along the edges.  The nose presents aromas of blackberry, plum and kisch, that just reminds me of many of the wonderful local Italian places in New York.  The wine is an explosion of rich fruit, blackberry, cherry and plum that exhibits a bit of sweetness, only to transition nicely to some mocha and black pepper spice midpalate.  The tannins are wonderfully integrated, leading to a wonderfully smooth and long dry finish that seems to last a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just a great example of the varietal and it was a terrific value from Wines Til Sold Out at just $18!  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a last gasp of summer before the time change tonight, with a rare grilled prime porterhouse, baked potato and grilled Brussels sprouts.  The fruit in this wine is a perfect foil for a nice grilled steak.  Salute!

2013 The Federalist Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Hump Day!  Tonight I have a special treat, a bottle of wine that I confess I totally bought for the label, the 2013 The Federalist Cabernet Sauvignon from Lodi!  I saw this in the supermarket a few months back and with the lettering and the engraving of Ben Franklin, I thought I have to buy this, even if the wine isn't good, I'm a big history fan and this is big history!  This wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (87%), Merlot (6%), Cabernet Franc (4%), Petit Sirah (2%) and Sangiovese (1%).  Besides, although I really like the Zinfandels from Lodi, they do all right with Cabs as well.  So let's see how this stacks up to history!

The wine is bright ruby in the glass with nice clarity.  The nose presents aromas of leather, green grass, black currant and boysenberry.  The taste is quite nice, with a rush of black fruit up front, currant, plum and cassis that transitions nicely to some lovely mineral notes of limestone and tobacco midpalate.  The finish is very nice, with well structured tannins supporting a long, smooth and very dry finish that seems to last a minute or more.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 7.5, as it's surprisingly good for a mass market wine, and it was a solid value as I think I bought this on sale for less than $10!  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a classic midweek dinner of chorizo and black bean tacos, as this wine complements the flavors and doesn't make you feel bad for enjoying it midweek!  Cheers!

2012 Luna Cabernet Sauvignon

Happy Sunday!  I spend much of the day relaxing, even taking a nap this afternoon as the dog days of summer really wear me out sometimes.  So now that I've started preparing dinner I thought I'd open a bottle of 2012 Luna California Cabernet Sauvignon, a wine I recently purchased through an offer from Vivino, so let's see how it is!  This particular Cabernet Sauvignon (85%) is blended with Malbec (10%), Petit Sirah (2.5%) and Petite Verdot (2.5%).

The wine is a beautiful bright ruby in the glass with great clarity.  The nose presents aromas of oak, leather, blackberry and baking spice.  The taste is classic California Cabernet with some lovely fruit notes up front, blackberry and plum that transitions to some mineral notes of tobacco and dusty limestone midpalate.  The tannins are well integrated providing for a long, smooth and very dry finish.

Overall I would rate this wine a solid 8, it's drinking nicely now, but would likely improve with a few years in the cellar.  It was also a pretty good value at $18.  This wine is ideal for steak, which is a good thing since I'm grilling a rare Kansas City cut Angus New York Strip for dinner tonight, along with some grilled veggies and fresh sliced tomatoes, a perfect summer meal.  Cheers!

2013 Greystone Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon

It's Tuesday night and the week is progressing well!  Tonight I've decided to open a bottle of next month's office wine club selection, the 2013 Greystone Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon that I bought a while ago in a case deal from wineshopper.com. This one is a little interesting as it was joint effort between the Culinary Institute of America and Markham Vineyards to make a nice everyday, food friendly wine.  The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petite Sirah from Lodi, the Sacramento Delta and San Joaquin Valleys of California.

The wine is a rich ruby color in the glass, with a somewhat lighter body than the typical California Cabernet.  The nose is rather subdued with a bit of blackberry, vanilla and oak.  The taste is quite pleasant, with a rush of ripe fruit up front, blackberry, raspberry and a bit of vanilla bean that transitions to some green herb flavors midpalate.  The young tannins really grab you as they form a solid foundation for the bright, fruit driven finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 7.5, it's a very nice everyday red wine and a terrific value at just $9!  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a classic comfort food meal of meatloaf with some steamed Brussels sprouts.  Not anything fancy, but a good mid-week meal that really pairs well with this wine as the heartiness of the beef and zing of tomato sauce really balance the rich, ripe fruit of this wine.  Salut!

2012 Ryan Patrick Vineyards Rock Island Red

It's time for Sunday dinner, perhaps my favorite meal of the week and of course that means I need to open a nice bottle of wine to enjoy with the meal I've worked so hard to make!  Tonight it's the 2012 Ryan Patrick Vineyards Rock Island Red from the Wahluke Slope of the Columbia Valley AVA.  This blend is a nice combination of Merlot (58%), Syrah (36%), Petite Sirah (5%) and Primitivo (1%).  I've reviewed the 2010 vintage earlier this year, and you can compare notes here.

The wine is a lovely deep ruby color in the glass with nice clarity.  The nose presents aromas of rich black fruit, blackberries, plum and black cherry with a bit of oak intermixed.  The taste isn't nearly as fruit forward as the nose would suggest, with lovely flavors of dark cherry and cassis that give way to some notes of cocoa and baking spice midpalate.  The supple tannins provide the most ideal backbone for the earthy flavors that grace the long, smooth and exceptionally dry finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8, it has great structure and is drinking quite well even at this early age.  It was also a good value at about $20.  Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a classic Pacific Northwest summer meal of cedar planked wild Alaskan sockeye from the Copper River along with some grilled golden beets and heirloom carrots and some pesto linguine.  Cheers!

2010 Forgeron Petite Sirah - Stone Tree Vineyard

What a long day!  Sometimes it seems like the work around the house just never ends, whether you're mowing the grass, raking leaves, or this time of year shoveling snow, there is always work to do.  Today I took down the Christmas decorations, dragged the trees to the curb, took down almost all the lights and garland, though there is one section outside the living room I didn't get to since it started snowing and I didn't feel like getting up on the ladder in the snow!  In any case, now it's time to relax, and to help me do that I've opened up a bottle of 2010 Forgeron Petite Sirah, from the Stone Tree Vineyard in the Wahluke Slope.  I just happened upon this bottle while looking for something to go with my dinner, and what a find, a Forgeron Societe exclusive wine with only 108 cases produced!

The wine is a deep, inky purple color in the glass that's almost black at the center.  The nose is just divine, with aromas of ripe black fruit and a bit of smokiness that accents the notes of boysenberry and blueberry.  The taste is a rush of ripe fruit, blueberries, plums, black cherries, that transition to some lovely notes of white pepper and cassis midpalate.  The finish is lovely, as the well integrated tannins support the long, smooth and velvety dry finish that seems to last a minute or more.  I can't wait to have another sip!

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 8.5, as it's just a big, fruit forward wine that would pair well with a variety of dishes, from steak to a lovely roast lamb, but tonight I am pairing it with some barbecue chicken breast!  You see, I really love petite sirah as a great wine to go with barbecue, in a similar vein to Zinfandel, the strong fruit notes and the spice just make it perfect with smoky, sweet barbecue with just a hint of spice.  Along with the chicken breast, I'm also having some oven roasted rainbow potatoes and some sugar snap peas, it's like summer came back for an evening!  Cheers!

2010 Notarius Mendocino Heart Arrow Petite Sirah

Aaahhh, the polar vortex has subsided and we reached a high of 19 today!  To celebrate I've opened a bottle of wine of course. Tonight it's the 2010 Notarius Mendocino Heart Arrow Petite Sirah, which as I've said before is neither petite nor Syrah, but rather is a wine made from the Durif grape.

This wine is a classic example, with a deep brooding purple color in the glass. The nose is a lovely combination of rich leather, ripe plum, anise and a course minerality. The taste is quite nice with a good bit of green grass and spice up front along with some tart cherry and grass. These flavors transition to a lovely dusty limestone over white pepper and licorice. The finish is somewhat tightly wound as the tannins provide for a long and very dry finish. 

 

Overall I would rate this wine a solid 7.5 as it's a solid example of the varietal, but it was somewhat expensive at $22. Tonight I am enjoying this wine with a lovely dinner of roast chicken breast with oven roasted Brussels sprouts and some linguine with garlic and olive oil. Despite the boldness of the wine, it plays quite well against the spice of the dinner, but it would pair nicely with a grilled steak or many lamb dishes. Cheers!

2009 Wattle Creek "The Triple Play" Red Blend

It's officially day 3 of my staycation, that time near the end of May when I rush to use up my remaining vacation days before they are sacrificed on the alter of work-a-holism!  And for this vacation day, I have opened up a nice bottle from the Yorkville Highlands of Mendocino County, California, the 2009 Wattle Creek "The Triple Play" red wine blend. This blend is made in the Rhone style, with a combination of Syrah, Viognier and Petite Sirah, for what should make a very interesting wine.

The wine is a pleasant ruby color in the glass, and the nose exhibits notes of ripe red fruit, spicy pepper and a hint of mint over some very subtle oak.  The taste is somewhat fruit forward, with a bit of blackberry jam on the outset, which transitions to some fresh herbs and mint midpalate.  The tannins are very well structured, leading to a firm, dry finish that would complement a wide variety of grilled meats and savory dishes.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 7.5, as it's a pleasure to drink, but I honestly can't remember where I bought this wine, so I have no idea if it was a bargain or not!  Tonight I am pairing this wine with some Tuscan herb grilled lamb chops, a bit of pasta with creamy pesto, and a Caprese salad with 25-year balsamic, yum!

2010 Michael David Winery Petite Petit

So tonight I am enjoying two lovely wines from Lodi, California for the Snooth.com Lodi virtual tasting (you can check it out here: http://www.snooth.com/virtual-tasting/video/lodi-virtual-tasting-room/) and the second one I am tasting tonight is the 2010 Michael David Winery Petite Petit. This wine is a somewhat interesting blend of Petite Sirah (85%) and Petit Verdot (15%), hence the name!

This wine is a bit darker in color, with a bit of opacity at the center, easing toward some ruby at the edges.  The nose on this one is quite a bit different, with some distinct woodsy notes reflecting the Petite Sirah (which also lends structure and the fantastic deep purple color), some wonderful fresh herb notes accented by anise and black cherry.  The taste of this one is somewhat more fruit forward, reminiscent of the more jammy Lodi zinfandels, with flavors of black cherry and cassis that transition into some flavors of forest floor midpalate.  The finish is quite nice with softer tannins leading to a more subdued, dry finish.

This wine is a very nice example of an interesting blend, that I would rate an 8 overall, as it's also a pretty good value at $18.  Tonight I am enjoying this one with my spicy Thai noodles and it holds up quite well against the Thai spice. It would pair quite nicely with some smoky barbecue, or a nice grilled brat with pickled red cabbage.  Cheers!

2009 Concannon Central Coast Petite Sirah

I am just exhausted!  I've been so busy with work and various other fun projects I haven't had time to even sit back and enjoy a bottle of wine.  Even tonight, it's past 8:00 and I just got home from the gym, need to make dinner and review this wine!  But at least there's wine, and tonight it's a bottle of 2009 Concannon Central Coast Petite Sirah.  I've had this wine before, but it's been a few years, and I can't recall the previous vintage, but I do recall that I liked it quite a bit.  And of course the fun thing about a petite sirah is that it's neither petite nor syrah, but rather it's a bigger, bolder wine made from the Durif grape.

This wine is a lovely deep purple in the glass, and presents a nose of tart cherry fruit, cut grass, and hints of leather and dark chocolate.  The taste is marvelously fruit forward, with dark fruit flavors and just a bit of tartness giving way to some richness of ripe plum, and earthy spice midpalate.  The finish is quite dry, with very smooth tannins supporting a very modest finish.

Overall I would rate this wine a solid 7.5, it's a very good example of a petite sirah, and it was a real bargain at just $7 from Trader Joe's!  Tonight I am pairing this wine with a mission style burrito, with grilled steak, onions and peppers, as I just think this type of wine really complements the spice and smokiness of Mexican food.  So if you have the chance, stop by Trader Joe's an pick up a bottle for yourself!

2010 Concannon Central Coast Petite Sirah

I've been a fan of Petite Sirah (or Petit Syrah as they say) for several years now, and I think what I like most about this varietal is that it's arguably neither petite nor very much like syrah!  It tends to be much bigger and bolder, with a more pronounced fruit profile.  Now I've had a Concannon petite sirah a few years ago, and it was very pleasant, so I'm hopeful that this wine will not let me down!

This wine still appears to be a bit young, but it's still well developed.  The color is a deep purple transitioning to a more ruby color toward the edges.  The nose feels young and green, with a clear fruit aroma of blueberries and ripe plums, almost edging toward a prune.  The fruit is accentuated by aromas of oak, savory spices and fresh herbs, which lend to the perception of this wine being young and "green."  The taste is very fruit forward, with flavors of blueberries and raisins transitioning to a combination of tar and tart cherries midpalate.  The finish at first seemed somewhat short, but then the tannins really played on some of the flavor complexity to make this a very pleasant finish.

Overall, I would rate this wine a solid 7, it's certainly not the best Petit Sirah I've tasted and I'll mark them down for the artificial cork, but it was a wonderful value at only $7 from my favorite local wine merchant, G.B. Russo!  This wine would pair nicely with some roasted meats, perhaps some lamb, but tonight I am enjoying this one with some chili!  So if you're looking for a nice red with plenty of fruit and lots of body, pick up a bottle and enjoy it!