WTN: '00 Tobin James Ranchita Canyon Petite Sirah

2000 Tobin James, Ranchita Canyon Vineyard, Petite Sirah, Paso Robles ($20). Alcohol level: 14.2%. Picked this one up in '02. It had to be a perfectly balanced wine, as it held perfectly to this point.

The wine still showed blackberries and other black fruit on the nose and on the tongue tip. There was even more fruit in the wonderful elixir that crossed the palate. There was just of touch of unresolved tannin, but it was not a distraction. The finish lingered and lingered.

We matched it with Near East Lamburgers grilled over lump charcoal with soaked hickory chips, wonderful cous cous with all kinds of stuff in it, and green peas. It hardly gets better for a retired Monday night!

2000 Tobin James, Ranchita Canyon Vineyard, Petite Sirah, Paso Robles ($20). Alcohol level: 14.2%. Picked this one up in '02. It had to be a perfectly balanced wine, as it held perfectly to this point.

The wine still showed blackberries and other black fruit on the nose and on the tongue tip. There was even more fruit in the wonderful elixir that crossed the palate. There was just of touch of unresolved tannin, but it was not a distraction. The finish lingered and lingered.

We matched it with Near East Lamburgers grilled over lump charcoal with soaked hickory chips, wonderful cous cous with all kinds of stuff in it, and green peas. It hardly gets better for a retired Monday night!

Sounds nice, Carl! I've not all that fond of many of the PS wines I've had lately, but perhaps I just need to give them a few more years.

perhaps I just need to give them a few more years.

Mike, I've found that most PS's need seven years or so, with some needing ten. There is a small handful that are ready on release and still very nice wines. The one the comes to mind with ease is the one by Bogle.

Cheers, Carl