How do you feel about Petite Sirah?
Posted: Sat Feb 16, 2013 1:28 pm
For our neighborhood tasting last night, we did Petite Sirah. It's the first time I've ever had an entire evening devoted to the grape, and I found the wines heavy, plodding and fatiguing. My two favorites were the '09 Foppiano that runs about $13, and a 2005 Charles Cimicky from Australia that was elegant with a neat nose that had a bit of allspice to it. We also served Marietta, Stags Leap and the only PS I know of in Washington State, Animale.
I've only got 5 or 6 PS's in my cellar and most were purchased so long ago I remember nothing about why I bought them, save the Sean Thackrey which I bought because I'll buy anything Sean makes. Last night's tasting made me understand why. It's not just that I rarely run into them to even pass on them, though that's generally true. It's that they're at the extreme edge of what is completely counter to the leaner European style wines I prefer. Those Petite Sirahs last night had me backed into a corner like a big man with bad breath and too many stories. I just wanted to get away. We came home in need of refreshment and drank a glass of Sauvignon Blanc.
Have a feeling I have company, as TN's on petite sirah are relatively few and far between here.
I've only got 5 or 6 PS's in my cellar and most were purchased so long ago I remember nothing about why I bought them, save the Sean Thackrey which I bought because I'll buy anything Sean makes. Last night's tasting made me understand why. It's not just that I rarely run into them to even pass on them, though that's generally true. It's that they're at the extreme edge of what is completely counter to the leaner European style wines I prefer. Those Petite Sirahs last night had me backed into a corner like a big man with bad breath and too many stories. I just wanted to get away. We came home in need of refreshment and drank a glass of Sauvignon Blanc.
Have a feeling I have company, as TN's on petite sirah are relatively few and far between here.