I aged this highly-rated WS wine in accordance with RP's pronouncement that a well-made petite sirah can last to eternity. Results - a fairly mediocre bottle of wine, with prominent & firm tannins, and noticeably fading fruit. Not a bad wine, but expected so much more. Would not recommend holding any longer, unless you do not require the presence of fruit in your wine.
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It's been six months since my last bottle of this. Previous notes apply. After two hours in the decanter, this was singing beautifully. Rich without being heavy or over bearing (the way some PSs can be). Mouth coating and unctuous, with dark berry, creosote, and tar notes. Subtle hints of ripe dark red raspberry on the back end, but otherwise a black and purple fruit with asphalt type of PS.
PnP was just a little tight with fuzzy tannins. One hour in the decanter at 54 degrees did the trick. Two hours in the decanter was optimum.
94 solid points. Drink now with a short decant, or hold a few more years.
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deep dark fruit tar espresso and smoke give way to well integrated tannins on the lengthy finish paired with a wood grilled elk loin with roasted beets prunes and sautéed wild mushrooms
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Same as my previous notes, with earthy funk and olive brine flavors to compliment the otherwise dark core of purple, red, and black berry fruit. Asphalt and some spice on the back end. My girl totally loved the tertiary flavors developing in this wine now. I'm ok with it, but honestly preferred it about a year or two ago. Seems to be losing a little traction. Still a good PS, but more subdued and softer than before. Most would prefer it this way, but I miss the intensity a bit. Still concentrated and deep.
93 points this go-around. Drink now with a splash decant (and a micro filter for some of the sediment).
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Huge, full-bodied. Very difficult to believe its a full nine years old, this seems so unevolved and tight. There is quality, but its missing charm in my opinion; feels monolithic, with some tar, asphalt and stone but nothing remotely sweet. While huge on the palate, it feels a blunt and muted. Might need another ten years to show something pretty.
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Drank last night along with some wonderful wines. A huge inky monster with a distinct camp fire element with black fruit and leather. Really nice PS which could easily last another 10 years or more.
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great deep fruited nose, initially had too much of a black olive note to it but after approx 45mins of air the olive subsided and more fruit and a hint of game came out. finish was decently long. good stuff here
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this is def a big wine without being overpowering. loads of dark fruit and some game on the finish. well integrated. will def have to try it again soon to confirm what i tasted
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Decanted for two hours. Maybe it was an off bottle or evening, but this was just okay. A big dark bruiser, but seemed a little disjointed and harsh. Hard tannins and rough finish overpowered the fruit flavors. We wanted to love it. Have 2 left. Will wait 6 months to try again.
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CAPITAL GRILL: Delominco steak, with Perla and Steph. Not as massive as others describe nor as long a finish. Decantered for 2 hours but did not seem to open more. Very good however, flavorful. Medium nose of black fruit and mineral. Will open another next year.
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A bit of mineral on first open, but opens up nicely after an hour or so. Massive favors or blackberries, leather, tobacco, and pepper with a finish that lasts for several days. :) amazing petite
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A taste right after decanting had a muted earthy funky nose and was full and dusty with firm drying tannins and an odd metallic note. Evolved over 6 hrs. Still huge but lost much of the funk and picked up a minerally leather and black fruit aroma. Held up easily with chinese pork ribs, pizza, and best of all - dark chocolate mousse. Will try again in a year.
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There should be an oenophilic category in English for black, as opposed to red, wines. Thick mouthfeel of puree without being port like or all that heavy, just abundant extract. Agree with others about an aroma/taste suggestive of boysenberry, blueberry, licorice, and blackberry cassis, with a coat of tannin. Will its complex of fruit evolve into complexity? Able to dwarf most big reds. Third tasting in last 12 months, has improved significantly in the bottle.
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Drank right out of the bottle; a big wine, deep purple, a strong nose of blackberry and cassis, dark fruit, strong tannins. This should be a great wine for years to come.
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--- COLOR: Black-purple to the rim NOTE: Nose to finish is like you poured boysenberry syrup on a campfire. Mouth is medium+, but not dense or ponderous. Finish has licorice and dries out quite a bit so give this a couple more years. It's funny, the label says "Petite Syrah." Not every day you get a vineyard manager/winemaker who has a spelling error on his label! Hey Mr. Valdez, best tell the marketing folks to put the spell check on the label!!! Hee hee!!!
DECANT: 1 hr GLASS USED: Bordeaux TASTE: 9.2 COST: 40 VALUE: 7.5 PREVIOUSLY TASTED: n/a TRY AGAIN: 2014+ PAIRING: Inquiries can be addressed to troypeterson@usa.net ---
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When pouring into the glass, it's possible for this to be confused with scorched motor oil. It's that black. And yes, that's a big excitement factor for new world wine drinkers like me. The nose is fairly intense with vanilla and dark fruits, body is mouthcoating but not syrupy, finish is packed with chocolate, cherries, with touch of licorice, charcoal and tar.
-- Consumed at at cellar temp: 60°-65° F. Friends don't let friends drink red wine at room temp!
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Opened and tasted prior to decant. Initial nose was quite fragrant but n the mouth was extremely tight; the tannins were sharp.
After a 3 hour decant the tannis began to tame and the fruit began to shine. There's a little heat detected (15% alcohol) but it's kept in check by balancing components. Clearly a powerhouse, this wine demonstrates the full potential of PS. There's gobs of black fruit, tremendos structure, and no detection of oak. A full palate experience leads to a long 30 second finish.
This wine really needs another 3 years of bottle age to begin strutting it's real stuff, but it drinks well now.
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deep indigo tinted purple. nose of blackberry, cassis, and spice. A massive, mouthfilling wine. Intensity in a glass. Enough acidity to carry the powerful tannins that coat your tongue and teeth. The tannins are anything but integrated. Will take four years to round the edges off enough to be fully pleasurable. You can sense that the balance is there, but time will bring it into focus. Finish went on and on.
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11/30/2019 - jmcnewjersey wrote: 88 Points
I aged this highly-rated WS wine in accordance with RP's pronouncement that a well-made petite sirah can last to eternity. Results - a fairly mediocre bottle of wine, with prominent & firm tannins, and noticeably fading fruit. Not a bad wine, but expected so much more. Would not recommend holding any longer, unless you do not require the presence of fruit in your wine.
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6/1/2017 - csimm wrote: 94 Points
It's been six months since my last bottle of this. Previous notes apply. After two hours in the decanter, this was singing beautifully. Rich without being heavy or over bearing (the way some PSs can be). Mouth coating and unctuous, with dark berry, creosote, and tar notes. Subtle hints of ripe dark red raspberry on the back end, but otherwise a black and purple fruit with asphalt type of PS.
PnP was just a little tight with fuzzy tannins. One hour in the decanter at 54 degrees did the trick. Two hours in the decanter was optimum.
94 solid points. Drink now with a short decant, or hold a few more years.
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4/6/2017 - joet626 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Wow! deep, dark, lush. Perfect in the mouth and a long finish. Dark fruits. A wonderful bottle
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1/19/2017 - lushlife wrote: 94 Points
deep dark fruit tar espresso and smoke give way to well integrated tannins on the lengthy finish paired with a wood grilled elk loin with
roasted beets prunes and sautéed wild mushrooms
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12/14/2016 - csimm wrote: 93 Points
Same as my previous notes, with earthy funk and olive brine flavors to compliment the otherwise dark core of purple, red, and black berry fruit. Asphalt and some spice on the back end. My girl totally loved the tertiary flavors developing in this wine now. I'm ok with it, but honestly preferred it about a year or two ago. Seems to be losing a little traction. Still a good PS, but more subdued and softer than before. Most would prefer it this way, but I miss the intensity a bit. Still concentrated and deep.
93 points this go-around. Drink now with a splash decant (and a micro filter for some of the sediment).
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11/11/2016 - clarktoews Likes this wine: 92 Points
not as impressive as before, seems to have a some green olive notes on the finish. and man, it sure turns your teeth black.
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9/3/2016 - Sugarb Likes this wine: 91 Points
Needs decanting,big time. Really tight, no doubt of what grape you are drinking.
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8/29/2016 - John McCabe wrote: 91 Points
Huge, full-bodied. Very difficult to believe its a full nine years old, this seems so unevolved and tight. There is quality, but its missing charm in my opinion; feels monolithic, with some tar, asphalt and stone but nothing remotely sweet. While huge on the palate, it feels a blunt and muted. Might need another ten years to show something pretty.
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7/11/2016 - csimm wrote: 94 Points
Same notes as in March. 94 points. Some olive and brine/saline notes this time around to complement and off-set the dark purple and black berry notes.
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6/19/2016 - Tannic Monster Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drank last night along with some wonderful wines. A huge inky monster with a distinct camp fire element with black fruit and leather. Really nice PS which could easily last another 10 years or more.
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3/15/2016 - csimm wrote: 94 Points
Thick unctuous PS notes of blackberry, blueberry, chocolate covered raspberry, asphalt, tar, granite, and cacao.
Drinking really well right now on a PnP, but has the stuffing to last another decade. Recommended. A solid 94.
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1/18/2016 - clarktoews Likes this wine: 93 Points
great deep fruited nose, initially had too much of a black olive note to it but after approx 45mins of air the olive subsided and more fruit and a hint of game came out. finish was decently long. good stuff here
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5/9/2015 - clarktoews Likes this wine: 93 Points
a big wine that is deep coloured and brooding in flavours. had it with a ribeye steak, very good match
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2/16/2015 - DrewWyman wrote: 92 Points
What a dark wine. Deep purple with loads of dark fruit. Medium tannins that make it not overpowering. This will last a lifetime.
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2/5/2015 - clarktoews Likes this wine: 93 Points
what a massive wine. borders on overpowering but very enjoyable. a massive teeth stainer this one is.
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3/13/2014 - clarktoews Likes this wine: 93 Points
this is def a big wine without being overpowering. loads of dark fruit and some game on the finish. well integrated. will def have to try it again soon to confirm what i tasted
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2/21/2014 - The Wright Franks wrote:
Yum, painful morning #port.
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7/5/2012 - Castle Peak wrote: 87 Points
Decanted for two hours. Maybe it was an off bottle or evening, but this was just okay. A big dark bruiser, but seemed a little disjointed and harsh. Hard tannins and rough finish overpowered the fruit flavors. We wanted to love it. Have 2 left. Will wait 6 months to try again.
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5/21/2012 - Blackland wrote: 93 Points
Excellent wine highly recommended. Deep purple color, tons of dark fruit, earth, leather and tobacco. Long finish.
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5/11/2012 - perlasteve wrote:
CAPITAL GRILL: Delominco steak, with Perla and Steph. Not as massive as others describe nor as long a finish. Decantered for 2 hours but did not seem to open more. Very good however, flavorful. Medium nose of black fruit and mineral. Will open another next year.
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2/26/2012 - Jackstraw212 Likes this wine: 93 Points
A bit of mineral on first open, but opens up nicely after an hour or so. Massive favors or blackberries, leather, tobacco, and pepper with a finish that lasts for several days. :) amazing petite
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2/25/2012 - GlassHalfFull wrote: 91 Points
A taste right after decanting had a muted earthy funky nose and was full and dusty with firm drying tannins and an odd metallic note. Evolved over 6 hrs. Still huge but lost much of the funk and picked up a minerally leather and black fruit aroma. Held up easily with chinese pork ribs, pizza, and best of all - dark chocolate mousse. Will try again in a year.
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2/5/2012 - wilypod Likes this wine: 92 Points
There should be an oenophilic category in English for black, as opposed to red, wines. Thick mouthfeel of puree without being port like or all that heavy, just abundant extract. Agree with others about an aroma/taste suggestive of boysenberry, blueberry, licorice, and blackberry cassis, with a coat of tannin. Will its complex of fruit evolve into complexity? Able to dwarf most big reds. Third tasting in last 12 months, has improved significantly in the bottle.
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11/15/2011 - Blackland wrote: 92 Points
Drank right out of the bottle; a big wine, deep purple, a strong nose of blackberry and cassis, dark fruit, strong tannins. This should be a great wine for years to come.
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6/1/2011 - tp096255 wrote: 92 Points
---
COLOR: Black-purple to the rim
NOTE: Nose to finish is like you poured boysenberry syrup on a campfire. Mouth is medium+, but not dense or ponderous. Finish has licorice and dries out quite a bit so give this a couple more years. It's funny, the label says "Petite Syrah." Not every day you get a vineyard manager/winemaker who has a spelling error on his label! Hey Mr. Valdez, best tell the marketing folks to put the spell check on the label!!! Hee hee!!!
DECANT: 1 hr
GLASS USED: Bordeaux
TASTE: 9.2
COST: 40
VALUE: 7.5
PREVIOUSLY TASTED: n/a
TRY AGAIN: 2014+
PAIRING:
Inquiries can be addressed to troypeterson@usa.net
---
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2/10/2011 - Gestalted wrote: 94 Points
When pouring into the glass, it's possible for this to be confused with scorched motor oil. It's that black. And yes, that's a big excitement factor for new world wine drinkers like me. The nose is fairly intense with vanilla and dark fruits, body is mouthcoating but not syrupy, finish is packed with chocolate, cherries, with touch of licorice, charcoal and tar.
--
Consumed at at cellar temp: 60°-65° F. Friends don't let friends drink red wine at room temp!
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1/30/2011 - PSirah Tampa wrote: 94 Points
Opened and tasted prior to decant. Initial nose was quite fragrant but n the mouth was extremely tight; the tannins were sharp.
After a 3 hour decant the tannis began to tame and the fruit began to shine. There's a little heat detected (15% alcohol) but it's kept in check by balancing components. Clearly a powerhouse, this wine demonstrates the full potential of PS. There's gobs of black fruit, tremendos structure, and no detection of oak. A full palate experience leads to a long 30 second finish.
This wine really needs another 3 years of bottle age to begin strutting it's real stuff, but it drinks well now.
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12/12/2010 - njmays wrote: 94 Points
deep indigo tinted purple. nose of blackberry, cassis, and spice. A massive, mouthfilling wine. Intensity in a glass. Enough acidity to carry the powerful tannins that coat your tongue and teeth. The tannins are anything but integrated. Will take four years to round the edges off enough to be fully pleasurable. You can sense that the balance is there, but time will bring it into focus. Finish went on and on.
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