Wine Review: 2005 Bodega Septima Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon

Name: 2005 Bodega Septima Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon

Producer: Bodega Septima

Region: Argentina, Mendoza, Luján de Cuyo

Classification: Gran Reserva

Type: Red Wine

Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon

Year/Vintage: 2005

Bottle Size: 750ml

Purchased: $18.99, PA Wine & Spirits, October, 2008

Date Logged: 11/15/2008

Pairing(s): Grilled steak with gargonzola cheese and butter

My Rating: 4 Stars

The bottle that this wine comes in looks larger than usual and feels a bit on the heavy side. Which is fitting, since this is a big wine. Dark, dark red color in the glass. Lots of red fruit on the nose - cherries, raspberries and strawberries, all of which follow through on the palate, along with some green pepper and vegetable components as well. Not overly complex, but not exactly a fruit bomb either. Quite tannic on the long finish, this wine needs a strong food to pair with. I had it with grilled NY Strip at Café Du Jour, and the wine complemented the spices and gorgonzola cheese that they rub on the steak very nicely. If you’re looking for a delicious, almost-but-not-quite-Bordeaux style of wine for a big meal, this is a good choice for less than 20 bucks.

Wine Review: 2007 Rudolf Müller Riesling Kabinett

Name: 2007 Rudolf Müller Riesling Kabinett
Producer: Rudolph Muller
Region: Germany, Mosel Saar Ruwer
Classification: N/A
Type: White Wine
Variety: Riesling
Year/Vintage: 2007
Bottle Size: 750ml
Purchased: $12.99, PA Wine & Spirits, October, 2008
Date Logged: 11/12/2008
Pairing(s): Green Curry (spicy 9 out of 10)
My Rating: 3-1/2 Stars

Our string of hits continues. Another good value from the Mosel river valley of Germany. This wine paired very well with a relatively spicy curry. Very pale in the glass, almost clear, with strong green apple and citrus components on the nose and palate. The wine had a delicious sweetness up front and a really nice mineral finish. Better with food than without, but easy-drinking either way. Highly recommended.

Wine Review: 2004 Placido Chianti Classico

Name: 2004 Placido Chianti Classico
Producer: Placido
Region: Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico
Classification: Reserve
Type: Red Wine
Variety: Sangiovese
Year/Vintage: 2004
Bottle Size: 750ml
Purchased: $13.99, PA Wine & Spirits, October, 2008
Date Logged: 11/9/2008
Pairing(s): Spaghetti, red sauce and meatballs
My Rating: 3-1/2 Stars

Nice. Perfect match for a hearty pasta dish like spaghetti and meatballs. A little red fruit mixed with great earthy and leathery undertones on the nose and palate. The acidity mixes well with tomato-based food, and I can see having this with pizza as well. Medium finish, with a nice mouth feel all the way through. Great value.

Wine Review: 2006 Domaine Saint Martin Bourgogne Blanc

Name: 2006 Domaine Saint Martin Bourgogne Blanc

Producer: Domaine Saint Martin

Region: France, Burgundy, Mâconnais, St. Véran

Classification: N/A

Type: White Wine

Variety: Chardonnay

Year/Vintage: 2006

Bottle Size: 750ml

Purchased: $13.99, Total Wine & More, February, 2008

Date Logged: 11/7/2008

Pairing(s): Greek Chicken Wraps

My Rating: 3-1/2 Stars

This was a very nice Chardonnay from the Mâconnais region of France. Very pale straw color in the glass, with a pleasant nose of grapefruit and peaches. Crisp and well balanced on the palate, with good peach, citrus and melon flavor components, and a little bit of mineral on the back end. The finish was a little short, and there was almost no detectable oak. The wine matched very nicely with some soft cheese and lemon-based chicken wraps, but it would also serve quite well as a nice summer sipping wine.

Wine Review: 2007 Gunn Estate Sauvignon Blanc

Name: 2007 Gunn Sauvignon Blanc
Producer: Gunn Estate
Region: New Zealand, Marlborough
Classification: N/A
Type: White Wine
Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Year/Vintage: 2007
Bottle Size: 750ml
Purchased: $14.99, PA Wine Store, Oct. 2008
Date Logged: 11/2/2008
Pairing(s): Grilled Chicken Salad
My Rating: 2.5 Stars

This wine is loaded with fruit. Lots of apricots, peaches and pineapple on the nose. More of the same on the palate, with a good dose of honey sweetness, but balanced fairly well with some acidity on the mid-palate. This is a light drinking wine that definitely goes well with salads and chicken. A little pricy for an average wine. I think the Kim Crawford Sav Blanc is a slightly better wine and is generally $4-5 cheaper.

Wine Review: 2005 Le Pont Bandol

Name: 2005 Le Pont Bandol
Producer: Le Pont
Region: France, Provence, Bandol
Classification: N/A
Type: Red Wine
Variety: Mourvèdre, others (e.g., maybe Cinsault, Grenache)
Year/Vintage: 2005
Bottle Size: 750ml
Purchased: $14.99, Total Wine and More, Feb. 2008
Date Logged: 11/1/2008
Pairing(s): Pizza
My Rating: 3 Stars

Bandol vines are located in the hills between La Ciotat and Toulon, near Marseille, facing the Mediterranean Sea. Bandol is one of the oldest vineyards in France. The first vine was planted in Bandol 2,500 years ago by the Romans!

This wine had a nice garnet color in the glass. The nose was rather closed, with hints of spiciness – it smelled a little hot. The palet was noticeably spicy, with black pepper as well as green and red bell peppers. We had it with pizza and it actually complemented the peppers and pepperoni quite nicely. It was mildly tannic, and would hold up to a savory meat dish just as well. Medium finish.

Overall, a good food-friendly wine and a pretty nice value.

Wine Review: 2006 Valkenberg Zeller Schwarze Katz Riesling

Name: 2006 Valkenberg Zeller Schwarze Katz Riesling

Producer: P.J. Valkenberg

Region: Germany, Mosel, Zeller

Classification: N/A

Type: White Wine

Variety: Riesling

Year/Vintage: 2006

Bottle Size: 750ml

Purchased: $10.99, PA Wine Store, October 2008

Date Logged: 10/28/2008

Pairing(s): Asian Beef Stir Fry

My Rating: 3.5 Stars

This wine is a version of the famous Zeller Schwarze Katz, or Zeller’s "Black Cat." The legend goes that a black cat once chose the best wine during a tasting event long, long ago, by jumping on the barrel and clawing anyone that would come near.

We paired this version of the "black cat" with a mildly spicy beef stir fry. The light, fruity and sweet wine matched the medium heat of the stir fry perfectly. The wine had a nice, strong apple aroma, and the palate offered lots of apple and peach flavors, with smoke and mineral notes. The fruity sweetness is well balanced by clean acidity and a barely dry finish.

This is a very easy-drinking wine, and would pair well with just about any light meat or seafood dish, and would also be great with mild cheese or sour apples. At $10.99, it’s a great value.

Wine Review: 1995 Chateau Simard Saint-Emilion

Name: 1995 Chateau Simard Saint-Emilion

Producer: Chateau Simard

Region: France, Bordeaux, Saint-Emilion

Classification: N/A

Type: Red Wine

Variety: 70% Merlot/30% Cabernet Franc

Year/Vintage: 1995

Bottle Size: 750ml

Purchased: $27.99, PA Wine Store

Date Logged: 10/19/2008

Pairing(s): (1) Tomato pasta, (2) BBQ pork ribs

My Rating: 4 stars

This wine is one of the few affordable Saint-Emilion wines that the PA Wine Store routinely carries (if you can call $28 affordable). Neither of the pairings we drank this with were quite appropriate for this type of wine, but I have been wanting something old and complex lately, and this '95 sort of jumped out at me.

This is a nice wine. It is very complex, and has held up very well in the bottle. The tannins are strong but round, and the predominant flavor and aroma profiles are earthy and smoky, with a little bit of dirty laundry funkiness thrown in for good measure. The aroma reminds you of a forest floor and a campfire, and the taste brings to mind mushrooms and chocolate, with some spicy clove and black peppers in the finish. There's not a lot of fruit to speak of, although occasionally some black cherry would sneak in.

This is the kind of wine that definitely needs a steak or some kind of marinated grilled meat to be appreciated fully. The pork ribs worked better for us than the pasta, but in both cases I wasn't dissapointed in drinking such an interesting wine.

What We've Been Drinking

I had a few good wines lately that are worth having again. Two in particular, are the 2006 Villa Maria Gewurztraminer from New Zealand (3 stars, purchased $11.99 at PA Wine Store last October), and the 2006 Querceto Chianti Classico (3 stars, $13.99 at PA Wine Store this April). I paired the Gewurztraminer with both a spicy pasta as well as a chicken stir-fry, and it complemented both meals very well. We had the Chianti with pizza and Italian-style chicken & tomatoes, and both of these pairings were very good. Two good value wines worth seeking out again.

On the other hand, we had a 2004 Chateau de la Charriere, Clos Rousseau from the Santenay appelation of Burgundy (two stars, $27.99 from Total Wine and More this February). We paired it with barbeque grilled pork. Although not a bad wine, I didn't feel it delivered quite the experience that the two wines above did at half the price or less, so it was a loser on the value scale. Did I mention that it was an Alfio Moriconi selection (see previous dissapointments for this line)?

Wine Review: Erath 2006 Oregon Pinot Noir

Name: Erath 2006 Oregon Pinot Noir
Producer: Erath Vinyards
Region: USA, Oregon, 90.3% Willamette Valley, 9.7% Umpqua
Classification: N/A
Type: Red Wine
Variety: Pinot Noir
Year/Vintage: 2006
Bottle Size: 750ml
Purchased: $18.89, Fresh Market Food Store, March, 2008
Date Logged: 08/29/2008
Pairing(s): Grilled pork chops with Dijon baked potatoes
My Rating: 4 stars

Erath is a small producer in the Willamette Valley of Oregon that has been around since the late 1960s. They have 118 acres of vinyards, and purchase grapes from another 130 acres in Oregon. Almost two thirds of their wine is Pinot Noir, but they also produce Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc and small amounts of Dry Riesling, Dry Gewürztraminer and Dolcetto. Erath produces three styles of Pinot Noir. The most affordable and first to be bottled and released each year is the 'Oregon', which is what I had here.

This wine is everything that I look for in a good American Pinot. It has a super light color that borders on pinkish. The nose is very floral, fruity, and non-French, with hints of cranberries, cherries and almost every conceivable red berry. The taste is fruit forward with very mild tannins and a little earthiness, spice and a hint of oak on the mid-length finish. The wine had a really nice silky feel in the mouth, and seemed about as fresh and aromatic as any wine I have had in recent memory.

We had this with pork chops and Dijon potatoes, and the pairing was perfect. I could also see having this with grilled salmon or grilled chicken salad. At less than 20 bucks, I think this wine is a great value and really worth having again. I logged its overall quality at 4 out of 5 stars.

Wine Review: 2006 Jaffelin Mercurey Pinot Noir

Name: 2006 Jaffelin Mercurey 1er Cru Le Clos L’Eveque
Producer: Roger Jaffelin
Region: France, Burgundy, Côte Chalonnaise, Mercurey 1er Cru
Classification: Grand Vin de Bourgogne
Type: Red Wine
Variety: Pinot Noir
Year/Vintage: 2006
Bottle Size: 750ml
Purchased: $22.99, Total Wine & More, February, 2008
Date Logged: 08/10/2008
Pairing: Grilled Pork Loin
My Rating: 3-1/2 Stars

This is what I want from a wine like this… delicious, fresh, moderate complexity, a little funkiness and a lot of fruit. A very well-balanced wine that is drinking very well right now. Moderate tannins on the back end, so it may stick around for a few years as well. Paired superbly with grilled pork loin, but is also a pleasant sipping wine as well. Beautiful light ruby color in the glass, and a nose that is loaded with fruit and forest aromas. We thought that this was slightly better than a 2005 Pernand-vergelesses we had a few months ago from the same producer.

$10 Value Contest: Chile versus Australia

Recently we had two "cheap" wines which turned out to be on complete opposite ends of the value spectrum. Other than the price, these two wines didn't have much in common, so it isn't fair to either one of these wines to compare them in a head-to-head competition. It is interesting, nevertheless, to just compare the bang for the buck aspect of these two wines.

First, on the high-side of the value curve, we had a Cabernet Sauvignon from Chile (2006 BrisAndes from Domaines Baron de Rothschild (Lafite), from the Colchagua Valley of Chile). We paid about $10 for it earlier this year at Total Wine and More in Delaware. With its French heritage backing by Lafite, I expected it to be a good effort, and was not disappointed. In fact, I was surprised at how good this wine actually was. It drank very much like a more expensive wine from Medoc, except a little more fruit-forward. It had a full flavor profile, with nice dark fruit, spice and chocolate tones. Very pleasing weight and finish, and paired perfectly with a grilled steak.

On the other end of the spectrum is the 2002 Jacob's Creek Reserve Chardonnay from South Australia. Another $10 purchase, but that was several years ago, so a more recent vintage today is probably a dollar or two more expensive. I probably should handicap the wine a little since it has been in the cellar a little longer than a $10 chardonnay should, but my guess is that this wasn't a very good wine even in 2002. The primary problem was oak - this wine tasted like I inhaled while I was standing in a saw mill. We had this wine with a light grilled chicken salad. At first I thought I would grow to like it, but the oak just completely overshadowed any potential good elements of the wine, not to mention the food. We ended the meal with nearly a half-bottle left, which is a rarity at our table.

So, that's the problem with wine...or maybe what's cool about wine. Two bottles for the same price, one I could drink every night, the other I don't care to ever have again.

Wine Review: 2006 Domaine Pascal Bouchard Petit Chablis

Name: 2006 Domaine Pascal Bouchard Petit Chablis
Producer: Domaine Pascal Bouchard
Region: France, Burgundy, Chablis
Classification: N/A
Type: White Wine
Variety: Chardonnay
Year/Vintage: 2006
Bottle Size: 750ml
Purchased: $17.99 Total Wine and More
Date Logged: 07/25/2008
Pairing(s): Seafood Pasta in Lemon and Olive Oil
My Rating: 3 Stars

This is classic Chablis, with plenty of green apple, citrus and mineral overtones. It had a long finish with a nice acidity. Perfect match with shrimp and scallops. Although it is very good, though, it wasn’t knock-your-socks-off good nor particularly memorable, and I’m not sure if it held its value up with the $18 price tag.

Wine Review: 2005 Willamette Valley Vinyards Pinot Noir

Name: 2005 Willamette Valley Vineyards Pinot Noir
Producer: Willamette Valley Vineyards
Region: USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley
Classification: N/A
Type: Red Wine
Variety: Pinto Noir
Year/Vintage: 2005
Bottle Size: 750ml
Purchased: $20.99, PA Wine Store
Date Logged: July 26, 2008
Pairing(s): NY Strip Steak and Salmon
Rating: 4 Stars

We brought this wine to dinner at Cafe Du Jour, which is one of our favorite BYOB establishments in Pittsburgh.

The color of the wine was very pale burgundy, almost with a brown tint to it. It had a complex nose, with an old-world aroma of dirty forest and black fruit. On the palate, it had plenty of dark berry and cherry fruit elements, with some more aromatic clove-like tones. It had noticable but not overbearing tannins and a nice medium finish. It paired very well with both of our meals. Good, solid wine and highly recommended as a French-style burgundy from America.

Wine Review: 2007 Pascual Toso Chardonnay

Name: 2007 Pascual Toso Chardonnay
Producer: Pascual Toso
Region: South America, Argentina, Mendoza, Maipu
Classification: Estate
Type: White Wine
Variety: Chardonnay
Year/Vintage: 2007
Bottle Size: 750ml
Purchased: $7.99, PA Wine & Spirits
Date Logged: 07/06/2008
Pairing(s): 1) Orange Roughy 2) Grilled Chicken
My Rating: 2 Stars

Oak rules this wine. If that’s what you’re after, then this wine will satisfy you immensely. I’m not a big fan of the buttery oakiness that this wine exudes, but I still found it reasonably enjoyable and certainly worth the 8 bucks I paid for it. It paired well with the fish and the grilled chicken dishes, the oak actually accentuating both nicely. Other flavor components include vanilla, pear and apples. The nose is floral and pleasant. It's a little unbalanced, with the acidity too weak. The finish is also a little short and leaves a bit of a burnt aftertaste. All-in-all, though, not a bad food-friendly wine to keep around for the summer.

Wine Review: 2006 Carneros Creek Reserve Pinot Noir

Name: 2006 Carneros Creek Reserve Pinot Noir

Producer: Carneros Creek

Region: USA, California, California, Napa Valley, Carneros

Classification: Reserve

Type: Red Wine

Variety: Pinot Noir

Year/Vintage: 2006

Bottle Size: 750ml

Purchased: $19.99, Total Wine & More

Date Logged: 06/27/2008

Pairing(s): 1) Grilled Chicken 2) Pizza

My Rating: 1.5 Star

OK, but not very likeable. A little more tannic than I expected. I anticipated a fruit bomb, but other than some light cherry flavors (think Ludens Cough Drops) nothing much to write home about. Thin and short finish. Not worth the price tag. Bad choice for pairing with the grilled chicken. It faired a little better with the garlicy pizza.

Wine Review: 2005 Chateau Coucheroy Blanc

Name: 2005 Chateau Coucheroy Blanc

Producer: Chateau Coucheroy

Region: France, Bordeaux, Pessac-Leognan, Graves

Classification: Grand Vin de Bordeaux

Type: White Wine

Variety: 90% sauvignon blanc and 10% semillon

Year/Vintage: 2005

Bottle Size: 750ml

Purchased: $12.99, Total Wine & More

Date Logged: 06/23/2008

Pairing(s): Scallops and Shrimp

My Rating: 3.5 Star

Nice pale straw color. Grassy nose with citrus and apricot tones. More citrus and peachy flavors on the palate, with a little mineral background and strong acidity – nice if you like that kind of thing. Fantastic pairing with a light seafood medley, and perfect for summer sipping.

Wine Review: 2005 Louis Chavy (Alfio Moriconi Selection)

Name: 2005 Louis Chavy (Alfio Moriconi Selection)
Producer: Louis Chavy
Region: France, Burgundy, Cote D’Or, Beaune
Classification: Vin de Bourgogne
Type: Red Wine
Variety: Pinot Noir
Year/Vintage: 2005
Bottle Size: 750ml
Purchased: $12.99, Total Wine & More
Date Logged: 06/22/2008
Pairing(s): 1) Pork Loin, 2) Salmon
My Rating: 1 Star

Not good. Closed nose. Felt like water in the mouth. It was drinkable with food, but that’s about it. Tasted more like a cheap Rose than a pinot from Cote D’Or. Fruit was nearly non-existant, and the acidity was way out of balance. I've seen other reviews that rave about this wine...so, I don't know, maybe it was just a bad bottle. I'm missing something here.

I have had little to no success with any wine labeled as an “Alfio Moriconi Selection”. This is the first I’ve had that this label appeared so prominently on the front of the bottle. I will beware of this in the future.

Wine Review: 2006 Chateau Saint-Robert Blanc Bordeaux

Name: 2006 Chateau Saint-Robert Blanc Bordeaux

Producer: Chateau Saint-Robert

Region: France, Bordeaux, Graves

Classification: N/A

Type: White Wine

Variety: Sauvignon Blanc

Year/Vintage: 2006

Bottle Size: 750ml

Purchased: $14.99, PA Wine & Spirits
Date Logged: 06/20/2008

Pairing(s): Orange Roughy

My Rating: 3.5 Stars

Wonderful nose of lemons and citrus. Worked well with light fish dish, but also drank nicely with fresh fruit appetizers and by itself. Almost candy-like on the palate, with a Jolly-Rancher sort of melon flavor. Not overly complex, but well balanced, with nice acidity and just a hint of smokiness through the medium finish. Had a lively and pleasant feel in the mouth. Excellent value.

Wine Review: 2003 Chateau De Bel-Air Lalande de Pomerol

Name: 2003 Chateau De Bel-Air

Producer: Chateau De Bel-Air

Region: France, Bordeaux, Lalande de Pomerol

Classification: Grand Vin de Bordeaux

Type: Red Wine

Variety: Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec

Year/Vintage: 2003

Bottle Size: 750ml

Purchased: $17.99

Date Logged: 06/15/2008

Pairing(s): Various grilled meats

My Rating: 3.5 Stars

We had this wine over several days. It actually improved (i.e., became more complex) each day after opening.

Great value-driven Bordeaux wine. Very nice dark ruby color. Complex nose and palate…plenty of tobacco, chocolate and black cherry tones. Finishes pleasantly long and tannic. Pairs superbly with grilled meats.

Wine Review: 2006 Barons de Rothschilds (Lafite) Chardonnay Los Vascos

Name: 2006 Barons de Rothschilds (Lafite) Chardonnay Los Vascos
Producer: Vina Los Vascos and Domaines Barons de Rothschilds (Lafite)

Region: South America, Chile, Colchagua

Classification: N/A

Type: White Wine

Variety: Chardonnay

Year/Vintage: 2006

Bottle Size: 750ml

Purchased: $11.99, PA Wine and Spirits

Date Logged: 06/13/2008

Pairing(s): Grilled scallops and shrimp

My Rating: 3 Stars

Los Vascos was 50% acquired by Rothschild (Lafite) in 1988. A team of winemakers from Domaine Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) control the viticulture, harvest, maceration, fermentation and aging of the wines at Los Vascos. All production is estate bottled.

Almost colorless in the glass, with just a hint of pale straw tint. This is a light chardonnay that paired very nicely with a light summer seafood medley of shrimp and scallops. The palate was citrusy with some very nice apple and peach notes, and finished with an interesting mineral tone. Well balanced and a good deal.

Wine Review: 2004 Simonnet-Febvre Millesime Chablis

Name: 2004 Simonnet-Febvre Millesime Chablis

Producer: Simonnet-Febvre

Region: France, Burgundy, Chablis

Classification: Grand Vin

Type: White Wine

Variety: Chardonnay

Year/Vintage: 2004

Bottle Size: 750ml

Purchased: $11.99, Total Wine & More

Date Logged: 06/10/2008

Pairing(s): 1) Tilapia w/fresh herbs and tomatoes, 2)Greek chicken wraps and grape leaves

My Rating: 4+ Stars

This was a good wine. Nice weight and rich feel in the mouth, well-balanced oak and acidity, and interesting mixture of citrus and mineral flavors. Extremely food-friendly, pairing well with both dishes. Next time I would like to pair it with raw oysters or steamed mussels.

Initially oily texture on the mouth with apple and tart citrus flavors. The mid-palate is dry with flint and maybe some nut flavors. It finishes a little sweet and fruity, with a nice length. Overall interesting from start to finish. At $12 it is a HUGE value.

Catching Up...Seven Wine Posts

I've been spending a lot more time lately drinking than blogging...time to catch up. I haven't drunk anything lately that has completely rocked my wine world, so I'm just going to do a mass summary review of everything I've had lately. They are listed in the following seven posts in order of Best-Value to Least-Value. All of them were decent, none were overly pricey, and none were must-haves. Tis the season of mediocrity.

Wine Review: 2005 d’Arenberg McLaren Vale d’Arry’s Original Shiraz Grenache

Name: 2005 d’Arenberg McLaren Vale d’Arry’s Original Shiraz Grenache
Producer: d’Arenberg
Region: Australia, McLaren Vale
Classification: N/A
Type: Red Wine
Variety: Shiraz and Grenache
Year/Vintage: 2005
Bottle Size: 750ml
Purchased: $16.99, PA Wine Store, June 2007
Date Logged: 06/02/2008
Pairing(s): Burgers
My Rating: 3-1/2 Stars

Quick Comment: Nice earthy and balanced wine, excellent value, easy-drinking, would buy again

Wine Review: 2003 Davis Bynum Limited Edition Pinot Noir

Name: 2003 Davis Bynum Limited Edition Pinot Noir
Producer: Davis Bynum
Region: USA, California, Russian River Valley
Classification: N/A
Type: Red Wine
Variety: Pinot Noir
Year/Vintage: 2003
Bottle Size: 750ml
Purchased: $21.99, PA Wine Store, June 2007
Date Logged: 06/01/2008
Pairing(s): Pizza, grilled pork
My Rating: 3 Stars

Quick Comment: Explosive fruit-forward wine, moderate value, paired OK with pizza, better with pork, better options available for less money.

Wine Review: 2006 Carpineto Dogajolo

Name: 2006 Carpineto Dogajolo
Producer: Carpineto
Region: Italy, Toscana, Chianti
Classification: N/A
Type: Red Wine
Variety: Sangiovese
Year/Vintage: 2006
Bottle Size: 750ml
Purchased: $12.99, PA Wine Store, April 2008
Date Logged: 06/03.2008
Pairing(s): Pizza and various
My Rating: 3 Stars

Quick Comment: Nice, fruit-forward wine, good value, food-friendly, would buy again

Wine Review: 2005 Villa Maria Private Bin Pinot Noir

Name: 2005 Villa Maria Private Bin Pinot Noir

Producer: Villa Maria

Region: New Zealand, Marlborough

Classification: N/A

Type: Red Wine

Variety: Pinot Noir

Year/Vintage: 2005

Bottle Size: 750ml

Purchased: $14.99, PA Wine Store, October 2007

Date Logged: 05/27/2008

Pairing(s): BBQ Chicken

My Rating: 3 Stars

Quick Comment: Interesting, moderately complex wine, good value, food-friendly, would buy again

Wine Review: 2003 Landmark Overlook Chardonnay

Name: 2003 Landmark Overlook Chardonnay

Producer: Landmark

Region: USA, California, Sonoma

Classification: N/A

Type: White Wine

Variety: Chardonnay

Year/Vintage: 2003

Bottle Size: 750ml

Purchased: $15.99, PA Wine Store, April 2007

Date Logged: 05/31/2008

Pairing(s): Grilled Shrimp

My Rating: 3-1/2 Stars

Quick Comment: Old standard, still good, nice value at the purchase price (cannot find it around here for same), moderate oak

Wine Review: 2005 Wild Horse Chardonnay

Name: 2005 Wild Horse Chardonnay

Producer: Wild Horse

Region: USA, California, Central Coast

Classification: N/A

Type: White Wine

Variety: Chardonnay

Year/Vintage: 2005

Bottle Size: 750ml

Purchased: $12.49, Total Wine & More, February 2008

Date Logged: 06/07/2008

Pairing(s): Grilled Shrimp

My Rating: 2-1/2 Stars

Quick Comment: Unremarkable but drinkable, decent value, a little oaky, probably would not buy again

Wine Review: 2005 Martin Ray Chardonnay

Name: 2005 Martin Ray Chardonnay

Producer: Martin Ray

Region: USA, California, Russian River Valley

Classification: N/A

Type: White Wine

Variety: Chardonnay

Year/Vintage: 2005

Bottle Size: 375 ml

Purchased: $8.99, Total Wine & More, February 2008

Date Logged: 06/09/2008

Pairing(s): Grilled Chicken Salad

My Rating: 2 Stars

Quick Comment: Tight nose, easy to drink but not very interesting, oaky, not worth $18 for a full-size bottle

Wine Review: 2004 PKNT Merlot

Name: 2004 PKNT (pronounced picante)
Producer: Terraustral Wine Company
Region: Chile, Central Valley
Classification: N/A
Type: Red Wine
Variety: Merlot
Year/Vintage: 2004
Bottle Size: 750ml
Purchased: Gift, December, 2007
Date Logged: 05/25/2008
Pairing(s): Pizza, Pork Loin
My Rating: 3 Stars

This was an interesting wine. It had a nice, fruity bouquet of red berries and cherries on the nose. However, on the palate, the fruit took a back-seat to a more vegetable and peppery flavor profile. No mistaking this for a California merlot. We had this first with a wood-fired oven pizza from Piccolo Forno, made with roasted red peppers, pepperoni and artichokes. The wine paired beautifully with the spice and smoke of the pizza. The same held true for the grilled pork loin we paired with it the second day. I think this goes for around $10 a bottle – a good value and definitely worth seeking out.

Wine Review: 2003 Chateau Haut-Maillet Pomerol

Name: 2003 Chateau Haut-Maillet Pomerol

Producer: Chateau Haut-Maillet

Region: France, Bordeaux, Pomerol

Classification: Grand Vin

Type: Red Wine

Variety: Merlot, Cabernet Franc

Year/Vintage: 2003

Bottle Size: 750ml

Purchased: $34.99, Total Wine & More, June, 2007

Date Logged: 05/23/2008

Pairing(s): 1) Turkey burgers, 2) Pork Loin

My Rating: 3.5 Stars

This wine delivers all of the classic Bordeaux qualities. It is fairly subtle on the nose, with a few dark berry tones and a little earth and tobacco aromas coming through. These same elements dominate the palate. It has a relatively light weight in the mouth, giving it a smooth and velvety texture. It finishes with a little smoky oak flavors and moderate tannins, but not overwhelming. Very food-friendly. It’s a little pricy at $35, but not unreasonable for this style of wine.

Wine Review: 2005 Hampton Bridge Zinfandel

Name: 2005 Hampton Bridge Zinfandel

Producer: Hampton Bridge
Region: USA, California, Sonoma

Classification: N/A

Type: Red Wine

Variety: Zinfandel

Year/Vintage: 2005

Bottle Size: 750ml

Purchased: $11.99, Total Wine & More, February, 2008

Date Logged: 05/21/2008

Pairing(s): Burgers, Chicken, Pizza

My Rating: 3 Stars

A decent wine at a good price. Fairly fruity and moderately spicy, with raspberry and cherry flavors hiding just about anything else that might be there. It went reasonably well with a variety of foods, and was pretty sippable by itself. Makes a good every-day wine.

Wine Review: 2005 Philipp-Le-Hardi Pommard Petit Clos

Name: 2005 Philipp-Le-Hardi Pommard Petit Clos

Producer: Chateaux Philip-Le-Hardi

Region: France, Burgundy, Cote d’Or, Pommard, Petit Clos

Classification: N/A

Type: Red Wine

Variety: Pinot Noir

Year/Vintage: 2005

Bottle Size: 750ml

Purchased: $39.99, Total Wine & More, November, 2007

Date Logged: 05/16/2008

Pairing(s): Grilled Pork Chops

My Rating: 2 Stars

This wine was a big disappointment, considering the great region, reputable producer and price tag. I found this to be a completely uninteresting wine. The wine had a very tight nose and was fairly one-dimensional on the palate, with little more than a predominantly bitter impression. After the initial tasting, I let it sit a day or so in the bottle to see if it would develop more complexity – it did not; instead, it just got more bitter. Based on the reputation of the Petit Clos vineyards, I almost think it may have been a bad bottle. At $40 a bottle, I will not likely find out.

Wine Review: 2004 Buffalo Grove Barrel Select Zinfadel

Name: 2004 Buffalo Grove Barrel Select Zinfadel

Producer: Buffalo Grove

Region: USA, California, Sonoma

Classification: N/A

Type: Red Wine

Variety: Zinfadel

Year/Vintage: 2004

Bottle Size: 750ml

Purchased: $6.99, Total Wine & More, February, 2008

Date Logged: 05/13/2008

Pairing(s): Turkey burgers

My Rating: 3 Stars

This wine proves that you don’t have to spend a lot of cash for a decent, food-friendly sippable wine.

I was initially a little worried by the fact that the wine looked weak in the glass, and was rather tight on the nose. It had a little bit of a fruity aroma (raspberry and strawberry) and some eucalyptus or menthol coming through, a little like Vick’s Vapor Rub.

On the palate, though, this wine delivered a nice dose of fruit, with predominately cherry and ripe plum, and a little dose of smoke. It sort of disappeared on the mid palate, and finished a little short, but it still did a good job of complementing the burgers and it made you want to keep drinking it afterwards.

Generally, I prefer a little more of the complexity and earthiness that you get in the old vine zins, but for an everyday quaffable wine, this one is well worth the seven bucks I paid for it.

Wine Review: 2004 Quinta de Ventozelo Douro

Name: 2004 Quinta de Ventozelo Douro

Producer: Quinta de Ventozelo

Region: Portugal, Douro

Classification: DOC Douro

Type: Red Wine

Variety: Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz

Year/Vintage: 2004

Bottle Size: 750ml

Purchased: $12.99, Total Wine & More, February, 2008

Date Logged: 05/12/2008

Pairing(s): 1) Seafood Stew (Tomato based), 2) Grilled Pork and Kraut

My Rating: 3-1/2 Stars

Since 1999, Quinta de Ventozelo has belonged to the Spanish group Proinsa. The Quinta produces Port and Douro wines. They were chosen Winery of the Year by Wine & Spirits Magazine in 2005 and have received numerous awards since.

I tried a 2005 vintage of this wine a month or so ago, only to find it nearly undrinkable (possibly corked). So, I was pleasantly surprised when I opened this bottle and had a much better experience.

The wine was a nice dark red color, with cherry cola and licorice on the nose. It had a moderately complex taste, with predominate cigar box and tobacco flavors. The mid-palate followed with some sort of a spice and pepper component that was more apparent the first night than it was after the wine sat in the opened bottle for a day. The wine felt light to medium bodied in the mouth, with very light tannins and a little oak-vanilla at the end. It paired equally well with the hearty seafood stew (delicious, by the way, from Trader Joes), and grilled pork with kraut.

Overall, I was pretty pleased with this wine and found it to be both interesting and delicious, and very food-friendly.

Wine Review: 2005 Running with Scissors Cabernet

Name: Running with Scissors Cabernet 2005
Producer: Running with Scissors

Region: USA, California, Central Coast
Classification: N/A
Type: Red Wine
Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Year/Vintage: 2005
Bottle Size: 750ml
Purchased: $9.99, Total Wine & More, February, 2008
Date Logged: 05/08/2008
Pairing(s): Grilled Filet Mignon
My Rating: 1-1/2 Stars

Dark red color, dark cherry, cedar and a hint of eucalyptus on the nose. Fairly blah on the palate, with some cherry and spice notes. The finish was balanced but fairly short. Overall, tested like most house wines you get in a restaurant or bar. Still, for 10 bucks, kind of hard to complain.

Wine Review: 2005 Montes Alpha Chardonnay

Name: Montes Alpha Chardonnay 2005
Producer: MontesRegion: Chile, Casablanca Valley
Classification: N/A
Type: White Wine
Variety: Chardonnay
Year/Vintage: 2005
Bottle Size: 750ml
Purchased: $11.99, PA Wine Store
Date Logged: 05/04/2008
Pairing(s): Grilled Chicken and Salad
My Rating: 3 Stars

Nice, light straw color with plenty of tropical fruit and citrus on the nose. Typical chardonnay characteristics on the palate, with citrus up front and some pear, apple and pineapple tones mixed in. A fair amount of oak creeps in on the mid palate and messes up the balance a little, but it still finishes OK and relatively long. Uncomplicated, mid-weight mouth feel and better with food than by itself. A little sweet and may actually pair well with fruity deserts…have to try that next time.

Wine Review: 2005 "Les Villages de Jaffelin" Pernand-Vergelesses

Name: Jaffelin "Les Villages de Jaffelin" Pernand-Vergelesses 2005
Producer: Roger JaffelinRegion: France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Pernand-vergelesses
Classification: Grand Vin de Bourgogne
Type: Red Wine
Variety: Pinot Noir
Year/Vintage: 2005
Bottle Size: 750ml
Purchased: $21.99, Total Wine & More, February, 2008
Date Logged: 05/02/2008
Pairing: Grilled Pork Loin
My Rating: 3 Stars

Pretty, light red color and good berry and currant aromas on the nose. The palate was rich and flavorful, with ripe blackberry fruit, leafy forest, smoke and dirt tones. It had a firm background of tannins, a little oak and balanced acidity. The texture was velvety and mouth filling. This wine wasn't overly complex, but it was tasty and delicious and paired very well with the smoky pork loin. A decent value and recommended.

Wine Review: Pierre Riviere Menuts 2003 St. Émilion

Name: Menuts

Producer: Pierre Riviere
Region: France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion

Classification: N/A

Type: Red Wine

Variety: Merlot 75%, Cabernet Sauvignon 15%, Cabernet Franc 10%

Year/Vintage: 2003

Bottle Size: 750ml

Purchased: $16.99, Specialty Wine Store

Date Logged: 04/30/2008

Pairing(s): Peppers stuffed with ground meat with tomato sauce

My Rating: 4.5 Stars

This wine qualified as delicious, and was one of the better wines we’ve had in awhile. Classic Bordeaux on the nose, with nice cedar and forest aromas up front and subtle red meat and cherry tones in the background. Likewise on the palate, with a soft but noticeable tannic finish. Very well balanced and enjoyable, it paired quite well with the stuffed peppers.

I bought this at a specialty store for $16.99, but I recently saw it in a grocery store in Virginia for around 12 bucks. Either way, this elegant wine is a great value and one that I will be looking to buy again.

Wine Review: 2007 Nobilo Regional Collection Sauvignon Blanc

Name: Nobilo Regional Collection Sauvignon Blanc
Producer: Nobilo Winery
Region: New Zealand - Marlborough
Classification: N/A
Type: White Wine
Variety: Sauvignon Blanc
Year/Vintage: 2007
Bottle Size: 750ml
Purchased: $10.99
Date Logged: 04/17/2008
Pairing(s): Steamed Mussels in herbs and tomato broth
My Rating: 3 Stars

This wine was a very pretty pale gold color. It was quite aromatic in the glass, with a very distinctive apricot and citrus bouquet, with hints of melon and some grass.

On the palate, it continued with the tropical fruit and citrus profile. It was light bodied, and finished clean, tart and relatively short. I didn’t pick up any of the mineral and cat pee type components that I’ve seen with other NZ sauvignon blancs, so if they were there they were relatively mild.

The wine paired very well with the mussels, providing a good palate cleansing after the ocean flavors of the dish. I would also expect this to pair quite nicely with grilled pork or light chicken dishes, particularly those with good doses of fennel, basil or rosemary herbs, or with a lightweight hard cheese. This wine is also nice just by itself, and at $11, a good deal for summer sipping.

Wine Review: 2005 Valley of the Moon Pinot Blanc

Name: Valley of the Moon Pinot Blanc
Producer: Valley of the Moon Winery
Region: USA – California – Sonoma County
Classification: N/A
Type: White Wine
Variety: Pinot Blanc (a genetic mutation of Pinot Grigio)
Year/Vintage: 2005
Bottle Size: 750ml
Purchased: $9.99
Date Logged: 04/15/2008
Pairing(s): 1) Fish Tacos, 2) Grilled Chicken
My Rating: 2.5 Stars

Had this wine over two nights, first with fish (tilapia) tacos and then with grilled chicken and salad.

This wine is pale straw in color with a greenish tint. It was relatively light on the nose, with predominant tones of cut grass with just a little hint of some apple, melon and citrus, maybe lime.

It was light-bodied in the mouth, with a flavor profile typical of a California chardonnay (e.g., melon, citrus, apricots, etc.) There was a little oak on the finish, but not overdone. It was relatively well balanced, with a enough acidity to be palate cleansing. It paired quite well with both dishes, which were light, summer-style fare.

For 10 bucks, this is a pretty good deal. It’s not especially memorable, but gets the job done in cases where you want something just a little different than a chardonnay or sauvignon blanc.

Wine Review: Stéphane Aladame 2003 Les Coéres

Name: Les Coéres
Producer: Stéphane Aladame
Region: France – Burgundy - Montagny
Classification: Grand Vin de Bourgogne, Premier Cru
Type: White Wine
Variety: Chardonnay
Year/Vintage: 2003
Bottle Size: 750ml
Purchased: $17.99, VA specialty food store, March, 2008
Date Logged: 04/13/2008
Pairing(s): Seared scallops in butter sauce
My Rating: 3 Stars

Had this wine with a buttery and herbal dish of pan-seared scallops (recipe available from recipezaar.com.)

The wine was relatively uninteresting on the nose, with a slight grassy and apricot aroma coming through. On the palate, it wasn’t much better initially, being fairly lightweight with a few citrus, grass and green apple components apparent. It seemed way too thin and watery and out of balance, with a very short finish and almost no acidity. We tried it with some buttery cheese and it just didn’t work at all…a bit of a disappointment for a white Burgundy and definitely not what I would consider typical.

This being said, however, the wine worked quite well with the seared scallops. Due to its subtle flavor profile, it complemented the butter and herbs of the scallops without competing. It had just enough citrus component to accentuate the lemony background of the food. All-in-all, the pairing turned out to be quite delicious. So, although I wouldn’t recommend this wine for quaffing by itself, I would suggest it for almost any mild seafood or chicken dish (chicken piccata comes to mind). Nevertheless, there are definitely better alternatives out there for less money.

The 3-star rating indicated above is with food. By itself, I would rate it barely above one star and not worth the $18 investment.

Wine Review: S. Orsola 2006 Dolcetto D’Alba

Name: Dolcetto D’Alba

Producer: S. Orsola

Region: Italy – Piedmont - Alba

Classification: DOC

Type: Red Wine

Variety: Dolcetto

Year/Vintage: 2006

Bottle Size: 750ml

Purchased: $8.99, Total Wine & More, February, 2008

Date Logged: 04/11/2008

Pairing(s): Tomato-based Pasta

My Rating: 1 star

I’m still looking for a good Dolcetto D’Alba…this wasn’t one of them. Uninteresting for the most part and not delicious. It had a little fruit and maybe some licorice flavors on the palate, but the finish was unpleasantly bitter. I understand that this type of finish is supposedly typical of Dolcetto, but it just seemed awkward and out of balance to me…disappointing.

Wine Review: Podere Il Pozzo 2005 Vendemmia Chianti Rufina

Name: Vendemmia Chianti Rufina
Producer: Podere Il Pozzo
Region: Italy - Tuscany - Chianti
Classification: DOCG
Type: Red Wine
Variety: Sangiovese (blended with others)
Year/Vintage: 2005
Bottle Size: 750ml
Purchased: $12.99, Total Wine & More, April, 2008
Date Logged: 04/10/2008
Pairing(s): 1) Tomato-based Pasta, 2) grilled sausage
My Rating: Yuck

I did not enjoy anything about this wine. We tried it first with pasta then with grilled sausage. It didn’t work in either case. We then tried pairing it with a few cheeses and still no match.

In a nutshell, the wine had a tight, uninteresting nose and a terrible flavor profile. It was way too tannic up front, which obscured what little fruit it had hiding in the background. It finished with a sour and basically disagreeable aftertaste. Bleh!

Enough said.

Wine Review: 2005 Domaine De Saint Siffrein

France, Southern Rhone, Chateauneuf-de-Pape
65% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 15% Mourvedre and 5% others

$33.99 at PA Wine and Spirits Store

We drank this wine over two nights, first with baked pork and veal with Dijon potatoes, then with grilled sausage and salad. We decanted the wine about 60 minutes before drinking on the first night.

This wine was dark ruby in color. It had an initial funkiness on the nose right after opening that disappeared within 20 minutes or so. Otherwise, it had nice cherry and red fruit aromas, along with pencil shavings, green peppers, dirt and maybe some faint mint. Given the complexity of the nose, it was a little bit of a disappointment on the palate. It started with a subtle dose of cherry and dark fruit, then quickly let loose with the tannins, which were strong and gritty. The second night brought forward a few more of the complex flavors like green peppers, cigar and cedar that were evidently lost in the tannins the first night. All in all, it seemed a little light on the fruit side for such a young wine.

It did pair well with both dishes, and I would expect it to go well with just about any strong, meaty dish that can stand up to the dryness of the tannins. Maybe more time in the cellar would make it more complex and enticing, but if you’re looking for fruit it may be already too late on this one. I gave this wine three stars in my log. Although it’s a good, well-structured wine overall, based on the price I have to consider it a little too pricey for what it delivered.

Wine Review: 2004 Crianza Artero Munoz

Spain, La Mancha

50% Merlot, 50% Tempranillo

$7.99 from Claymont, DE Total Wine & More

Generally, if we’re drinking a Spanish wine, it’s one from Rioja. In this case, though, we decided to try one from the La Mancha region, the largest wine-making area in Spain. At $7.99 a bottle, it was a low-risk venture. The La Mancha region is in central Spain (main city is Toledo), and the predominant grape variety is Tempranillo, also known in this region as Cencibel.

We had this wine over two nights, first paired with pizza and then with chicken BBQ and grilled fresh vegetables. Not surprisingly, it paired poorly with the pizza, but was perfect with the chicken.

The wine was a little smoky on the nose, with dark fruit aromas predominating and a touch of eucalyptus in the background. On the palate, it delivered with a variety of red fruits, including strawberry, cherry and some black currents.. The wine finished tannic and short, but pleasing and with a hint of dark chocolate right at the end. According to the label, this wine sees about 6 months in two-year old American oak, and this gives just a subtle hint of oakiness in the finish.

Overall, this wine wasn’t overly complex, but well balanced and enjoyable nonetheless, and quite a value at $7.99. Although a little too heavy for something like pizza, it complemented the BBQ chicken very well, and would pair nicely with any type of grilled meat or medium to strong cheeses. I gave it three out of five stars in my log.

Wine Review: Martin Ray 2005 Pinot Noir

USA, California, Santa Barbara County

$9.99 for ½-Bottle from Claymont, DE Total Wine & More

We had this half-bottle with grilled chicken sausage and salad…maybe not the best pairing for a pinot noir, but I was thirsty for a pinot and the sausage was already on the grill…so we rolled with it.

According to the folks at Martin Ray Winery, the 2005 pinot harvest was an outstanding vintage for Santa Barbara County, producing positive qualities of the fruit and the promise of wines with elegance, balance and structure. Well…maybe I just needed to decant mine a little longer than the 15 minutes that we allowed. Maybe that would have tamed the oak that tainted an otherwise average pinot.

This wine was pretty in the glass, with a light ruby color and a nose of strawberries and a hint of dirt. It was fruit-forward on the palate, though not a “fruit bomb” like some California pinots…more French Burgundy than California. It started with the strawberry nose translating to the taste and maybe a subtle hint of spicy cherry coming through. Unfortunately, just as you started to enjoy the nuance of the fruit, the oak took control and ended it with an un-delicious finish. So much for elegance. As Gary Vaynerchuk would say, I got attacked by the "Oak Monster".

Food-wise, the pairing actually worked. The oaky finish complemented the smoky, tangy chicken sausage fairly well. After the food was gone, though, it wasn't the kind of wine you just wanted to kick back and sip...not for me, anyway.

I’m giving this wine two out of five stars in my log. For the price, I have to say that it’s not a bargain, and I’m a little reluctant to pony up for a full bottle next time. Maybe some more air would have balanced this wine out a little better and eased the harshness of the oaky finish. I probably won’t find out, though.

Wine Review: 2005 David Bruce Petit Sirah

California, Central Coast

$21.99 from The Fresh Market specialty food store

OK, enough talk about Petit Sirah, let’s drink some!

We drank this wine from the David Bruce winery over two days, first with a grilled steak and then with grilled burgers. As promised (see previous post), this wine brought a lot of tannins, but unfortunately to the point where it was just downright astringent. In fact, I’m pretty sure this wine is too young and needed to sit in the cellar a few years to balance out a bit. I had hoped that a day on the shelf would mellow it out, but in fact it seemed even more astringent the second day we had it.

Visually, the wine had a beautiful, dark ruby color. The nose was fairly complex. We picked up a wide variety of aromas, including smoke (only right after opening), Luden’s cherry cough drops, pickles, raspberries, wet wood and paint…yes paint, the oil-based kind. The cherry and raspberry components dominated, especially the first day. The paint and pickles didn’t really show through until the second day.

On the palate, I regret to say that the wine was unremarkable. The tannins pretty much overpowered any other subtle flavors. Food-wise, it worked with both the steak and the burgers, as one would expect, but I would have to say that it was far from delicious. For 22 bucks, I would have much preferred a California cab or merlot or maybe a cheap Bordeaux. I've had young Bordeauxs that were much more sippable. Maybe a few years in the cellar will tame this wine and make it more enjoyable…but for now, I have to say I would pass on buying it again. I’ll have to seek out another Petit Sirah some day to compare. Maybe a Durif from Australia next time.

Wine 101: Petit Sirah

I recently became interested in expanding my knowledge of different grapes, wines and wine-making regions. I am particularly interested in knowing more about wines that I really don’t drink very often, with the intent of expanding both my knowledge and palate.

I begin with a rather misunderstood grape, Petit Sirah, a.k.a. Durif, Petit Syrah, Petite Sirah and Petit Syrah. Despite its name, it is neither petite, nor a Syrah. In fact, Petite Sirah wines are anything but petite - they tend to be big, strong and muscular.

History and Origins
A good history of Petit Sirah is posted on the website of the Petit Sirah Advocacy Association (a.k.a. “P.S. I Love You”).

Petit Sirah was originally marketed as such in California. About 3,200 acres of grapes identified as Petite Sirah are presently planted in California. Recent DNA evidence from research done at the University of California at Davis has confirmed most, but not all of these grapes to be the same grape as Durif, a somewhat lackluster French varietal. The remainder of the California grapes labeled as Petit Sirah are believed to be rather random mixtures of the nearly indistinguishable variety known as Peloursin, along with small amounts of Alicante Bouschet, Carignan, Grenache, Mourvedre and Zinfandel.

Petit Sirah’s French twin Durif is actually a cross of Peloursin, an unremarkable variety from the east side of the Rhône, with the true Syrah, the ancient noble variety from which the great Northern Rhône wines of Côte Rôtie and Hermitage are made. A French nurseryman, Dr. François Durif, propagated the grape in the 1870s trying for resistance to powdery mildew and named it after himself.

Although the names are similar and Petite Sirah is a true offspring of Syrah, the vines and grapes of the parent and child are quite different and distinct from one another and these varieties are in no ways synonymous with one another.

Petit Sirah Wine
Petite Sirah has long been an important blending grape, prized primarily for its deep color and intense tannin. It is the variety most often used to blend into zinfandel for added complexity, body, and to tone down the tendency of zins to become “fruit bombs”.

In addition to California, you will also find Petit Sirah (or Durif) wines made in Australia, Argentina, Israel, Brazil, Chile, and Mexico. Despite its French pedigree, Petite Sirah is now almost unheard of in French wines.

On its own, the flavor of Petite Sirah can be vaguely black peppery and often packs intense blueberry and eucalyptus flavors. Petite Sirah produces dark, inky colored wines that are highly tannic and relatively acidic with firm texture and mouth feel. Many describe it as "vinous" or “herbal”. When done well, Petit Sirah wines can be agreeable, pleasant, and sometimes delicious. Wines made from Petite Sirah age slowly and can survive fairly long cellaring of ten years or more (20 years is rare but not unheard of).

Food Pairing
Because of its strong tannins, Petit Sirah is more of a food wine than a quaffer. Petite Sirah pairs well with any food with which you would normally pair a big red wine: stronger meats such as grilled steak, roast duck, lamb, pot roast, rabbit in mustard sauce, and sweetbreads with mushrooms.