WineLovers Discussion Group

2011 Ridge Petite Sirah Lytton Estate - USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley (10/6/2013)
Shockingly forward and approachable. This is about the frindliest (in a slobbering puppy sort of way) Petite Sirah I have ever had. There's some tannin in the background, but barely enough for structure. Frankly it's just weird to drink a Ridge Petite Sirah that is this simple/fruity.

If this is the direction that the team is going to take with their renditions of this variety then I am done.

How long did you have the wine open. I wrote the note below about a PS that seemed to lack tannin for the first three hours but then they became much more pronounced

Opened a 2011 le P'tit Paysan tonight. Not what one expects of a young Petit Syrah. Tannins are not excessive. Wine is not jammy. Instead its almost sleek. Has some noticeable acid, med+ frame, pure raspberry flavor but the nose is more complex. Hoping for some more complexity with age but very nice as is today. Only drawback is that the finish is a little short and a touch bitter. Listed alc is 13.7%. Price is around $20. Great QPR.

After about three hours, the tannins do become more front and center.

Ultimately about 4.5 hours.

No clue. Possibly related, I have started to notice that I seem to prefer the wines made by Eric over those made by John.

Brian Gilp wrote:No clue. Possibly related, I have started to notice that I seem to prefer the wines made by Eric over those made by John.

Perhaps, Brian. Although there is no heir-apparent betwixt John/Eric; they're all very collegial. I think part of it is that Eriic, because of their larger
production capacity at MonteBello, has the more primo vnyds to work with...Geyserville, Pagani, YorkCreek, MonteBello. Much of the
capacity at LyttonSprings is given over to 3Vllys production.
Tom

David,
Several producers in the Sierra Foothills remarked to me that they have been trying to make their PS in a fashion that can be consumed young. "Nobody wants to wait 8 years to drink their wine", they said. Like you, I found them friendly but lacking both body and character.
-Shaji

If I wanted a wine to drink young I would not be buying Petite Sirah!

David M. Bueker wrote:2011 Ridge Petite Sirah Lytton Estate - USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley (10/6/2013)
Shockingly forward and approachable. This is about the frindliest (in a slobbering puppy sort of way) Petite Sirah I have ever had. There's some tannin in the background, but barely enough for structure. Frankly it's just weird to drink a Ridge Petite Sirah that is this simple/fruity.

If this is the direction that the team is going to take with their renditions of this variety then I am done.

David,
We had this last night in a big tasting of Ridges. Alas, it was pretty badly corked & no fruit to be found.
But on the palate, it seemed to be very soft/fat/porky and totally devoid of any structure. Will try
another btl in the next few days.
Tom

Porky meaning fat?

David M. Bueker wrote:Porky meaning fat?

Porky (in my lexicon) is one step beyond fat...an appalling lack of acidity.
I could probably post a couple of pics, David..but it'd gross you out!!!
Tom

That's ok. I'll just look at some of my bottles of 2003 German Riesling Kabinett.

David; I suspect that in 2011 it was not possible for Ridge to make a Petite Sirah of normal proportions. Cold, wet year. It's probably a vintage-appropriate wine.

Steve Edmunds wrote:David; I suspect that in 2011 it was not possible for Ridge to make a Petite Sirah of normal proportions. Cold, wet year. It's probably a vintage-appropriate wine.

Thanks Steve. I am not close to the vintage conditions reports, so I was not really aware of that.

Steve Edmunds wrote:David; I suspect that in 2011 it was not possible for Ridge to make a Petite Sirah of normal proportions. Cold, wet year. It's probably a vintage-appropriate wine.

Hmmmmm, Steve...can't quite understand why this would be the case. At 13.5% alcohol, it was lower than usual. But if it were a cold/wet year and the grapes
had trouble ripening, I would expect the wine to be on the hard/tannic/grean/lean side; not the soft/fat/porky structure it seems to show.
Tom

I'd have to guess that a decision to vinify differently was made based on the difference in fruit condition for the vintage, Tom.

I have not had this vintage, but just picked up a bottle of the 2010, and now am thinking about it before too long just to get a sense of what's inside. For the sake of comparison, though, the 2010 has a more expected 14.3% alcohol.

David,
Retasted thiis wine last night:
11. Ridge PetiteSirah LyttonEstate/DryCreekVlly/SonomaCnty (100% PS; 13.5%; Drk: 12/12-12/22: JO; Whole Berry
frmtn) 2011: First btl was pretty badly corked and no fruit; but soft/fat/porky on the palate and no structure
to speak of. Seconf btl: Black color; some fruity/plummy/licorice/ripe PS slight peppery/earthy/mushroomy
light vanilla/oak nose; soft/fat/lush/ripe fruity/plummy/licorice/ripe PS light vanilla/oak bit simple/one-
dimensional flavor w/ some hard/astringent tannins; med.short soft/fat/ripe fruity/plummy/licorice/ripe PS
light vanilla/oak finish w/ some hard/bitey tannins in the aftertaste; a rather simple/fruity/ripe PS but
totally lacking in structure or grip; hard to see this wine going anywhere; a rather simple/boring PS and
a rare clunker for Ridge. $nc (MR)/$30.00

Pretty much confirms (as if you really needed it) your take on the wine.
Tom

Thanks Tom. Guess I will keep my other bottles in the drinking queue for non-geek friends.