"Petite Sirah gets some respect!!".... SF Gate article.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.c ... 19GBFK.DTL

Another informative article on one of my fave grape varietals.

'Bout time!

I love petite sirah! Have since the 70s.

The first one that caught my attention was the 1971 Concannon. I was so impressed I drove down to Concannon and found Jim Concannon tooling around the property. He was kind enough to give me a tour of the joint and a petite sirah T-shirt.

I put it on my wine list immediately.

There is a winery five miles from my front door that makes a petite sirah - Coelho. I like their pinots but have yet to try their petite sirah.

I've enjoyed a few older PSs but they aren't all that easy to find in my neighborhood so about a year ago I went online and bought about a dozen high end ones with a few years on them -- mostly on the basis of WA, WS and cellar tracker comments and scores as I had nothing else to go on -- and stuck them in a corner of my cellar with no intention of tapping them until they are ready.

But then when will they be ready? When are most of the better Petite Sirah's considered to be in their best drinking window.

Clint, maybe not the high-end PS you might have but Foppiano and Parducci used to cellar nicely for up to 4 yrs or more. Guess Tom might be around to help out here?

For quite a few years Israel used Petite Sirah to make wines most charitably referred to as "mediocre". The scene has changed considerably, however, and although the vast majority of Petite Sirah makes its way into various blends, about a decade ago vintners come to realize that Petite could be used to make some fine varietal wines, especially when the grapes came from older vines, especially those discovered in long-abused and untended vineyards. Low yield, deep concentration and some delicious wines resulted. Just as a sampling – my tasting notes for some of the better Petite Sirah wines of Israel.

Best
Rogov


Avidan, Petite Sirah, 2006: Deep garnet, full-bodied, with ripe and supple tannins. Opens with a mint-like nose, going on to plums, blueberries and huckleberry fruits, all backed up by light hints of spices and grilled meat. Drink now-2011. Score 89.

Carmel, Petite Sirah, Old Vines, Regional, Judean Hills, 2007: Aged for 14 months in oak, partly new, partly used, made from 35+-year-old vines, a concentrated and full-bodied red, showing royal purple in color and with generous tannins in fine balance with spicy and vanilla-rich wood. On the nose and palate a fine array of red and black fruits, those complemented by notes of black pepper, olives and Mediterranean herbs. Drink now–2012. Score 90. K

Ella Valley Vineyards, Petite Sirah, 2007: The winery’s first release of a Petite Sirah varietal wine. Made from grapes from ten–year-old vines, intensely dark royal purple in color, showing generous tannins and fine fruit concentration. On the nose and palate blackberries, raspberries and loganberry fruits, those matched nicely by notes of mint and tobacco. Firm and chewy with a long, near muscular finish. Drink now–2012. Score 90. K

Recanati, Petite Sirah-Zinfandel, Reserve, 2007: Medium-to full-bodied, dark, almost impenetrable garnet, opens with black fruits and a gentle note of spicy wood. Goes on in the glass to reveal red berry and light leathery and peppermint notes. Drink now–2012. Score 90. K

Sea Horse, Munch, 2006: Petite Sirah at its best. Dark, almost impenetrably inky garnet in color, full-bodied, concentrated and intense, showing generous wood and mouth-coating tannins, those in fine balance with red plum, blueberry and currant fruits. Give this one time and it will prove supple, ripe and rich. Drink now–2012. Score 91.

Vitkin, Petite Sirah, 2007: Opens with the traditional rich huckleberry, boysenberry and blackberry notes that we have come to associate with the better wines of this variety. And then kick in minerals, chocolate-covered cherries and firm, somewhat chunky, country-style tannins that rise and linger very nicely on the long finish. Drink now–2012. Score 90.

But then when will they be ready? When are most of the better Petite Sirah's considered to be in their best drinking window.

We find that most well made PSs flesh out in seven years or so.

On another forum they are discussing Turley Hayne PS. Seems the `93 is ready!!!!