Community Tasting Note

John Dunlap wrote:

Tuesday, March 2, 2010 - (77% Lytton Springs Petite Sirah, 23% Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel, bottled November 2005. 34 Barrels produced.) Pulled from cellar where the wine lain since purchase. Drank w/o decanting. Good ullage and complete cork. Very dark color – certainly darker than expected. A really deep rich red color - quite young looking. Wine also has a fair amount of glycerin given the sustained legs on the inside of the glass, which further confirms that this is a big wine. Very full nose of rich black raspberry, dark plum and chocolate; all quite yummy. This wine also revealed a slight dusty element initially, but this seems to have dissipated since opening.

Sweet round flavors of black raspberry and blueberry are apparent right up front in the mouth. Flavors are warm and rich, but not hot or stewed. Tastes like one is eating a juicy dark plum on a hot summer's day. Finish is dry and rich, and has a bit of that fleshy tannin reminiscent of plum skin. A lovely wine, which is a perfect match with a beef roast or - better yet – paired with smoked barbeque pork along with a tangy sauce. This wine reaffirms my belief that Petite Sirah and some Zinfandels are the perfect varietals for barbeque. At 14.6%, this wine is high in alcohol.

Back of label notes: “…The combination of varietals and site is close to ideal, resulting in a wine whose aroma, textures, and flavor are uniquely “true to place.” Balanced and only beginning to soften, this Lytton Estate will clearly benefit from bottle age. It will develop fully over the next ten to fifteen years.” The synergy of this wine is lovely; I wish I had more to discover how it changes with years of development.

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