Purchased direct from Keplinger during a library release in 2021. Decanted for approximately 90 minutes and poured back into the bottle. Drank over 2 days out of Gassl Liberte stems. No food pairing on either day. Both days pretty consistent but maybe a hair better on day 2.
Color is as dark purple as dark as you can get before black. Nose of of blue fruits, flowers and a little baking spice. Taste of some redder fruits but predominantly overripe/baked blueberry pie and hints of baking spices. There is medium acidity and a fine tannin grip. It is full bodied, smooth and well balanced.
This is the perfect wine for a -1 degree Sunday, a burning fireplace and watching the NFL Wild Card weekend!
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Full-bodied with blood/iron, black fruits, and a bit of slate. No pepper, which I often get with PS and Syrah.
Smoother than many PS, well integrated, and past the rough stage. Excellent depth and paired perfectly with lamb on the grill. I see no signs of this fading.
This is elegant and plush, super dark inky color, dark fruit...the addition of Viognier was interesting and helped w/the complexity. In hindsight, I liked this better on opening than after a couple hours of air. Initially it had more verve, though it was a tad rough on the palate...after air it was much smoother and elegant (and really nice to drink) but ultimately was less compelling. Also suggest serving this slightly chilled.
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76% Petite Sirah, 20% Syrah, and 4% Viognier. 14.9% ABV. PnP. Has the fleshiness of the syrah, and the tea and mint notes on the finish of the viognier. Doesn't have the intensity one can find with petitite sirah. Pure, refreshing, juicy fruit.
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PnP what a great PS. Color dark purple. First blush says not for the faint of heart but it pulls you in with well integrated tannins, dark fruit, maybe smoke/tar and a great spice to lift the middle reminding you its a PS. Great wine has years and years to go. Opened at the start of its long drinking window- would like to try this in another 2-3 years or more. 93 with upside.
wonderfully integrated at this age. polished minerally entry with a slight funk that lasts but a second before transitioning to red and dark fruits with polished tannins. great petite sirah based wine - happy to bring it to a wine nerd party.
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Very nice wine. Decanted for an hour. Tannins are smooth yet still noticeable, suggesting a long life ahead. Dark fruit notes are not obstructed by any heavy oak, which is refreshing. Wine is drinking fine now, but I suspect that it can be laid down for many years and will be just as good or even better.
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Night 1: Dark ruby color. Unexpected vegetal notes on the nose. Medium-full bodied on palate, with some nice fruit, but expected more. 92 points. Night 2 - the vegetal notes dissipated, and the smooth black tar notes of Petite Sirah became prominent. I would bump score up to 93, and recommend a decant if you decide to open a bottle now.
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Winner. I have been buying the Sumo since '10 and this is by far the best one - IMHO. Super firm tannis - built to last decades. Though I haven't checked my other bottles I suspect this on of the lowest Viognier amounts with only 4% and it works. I love the dark dark, almost tar, fruits on the start with a huge finish. Past vintage have been a little to floral for my liking in a Petite. Outstanding. I will trying to drink the next one in a year +.
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I agree with the other notes. The tannins are firm but pleasant, and the dark fruits are prominent right from the beginning. Decanted for about an hour and my wife enjoyed it over the next 3. It just kept getting better, so some more time in the bottle should do it well.
I am extremely impressed with all of the Keplinger offerings I've tried. Glad I have plenty more in the cellar!
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Although the name suggests big and bold the wine was soft and fruity. Nicely balanced with layers of dark fruits. A bit strong on its tannins so a couple more years would help. However, wine is perfectly fine to open now and enjoy. The wine went well with the chicken, olive, prune baked dish.
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Had as a pop and pour at the Melting Pot in Raleigh. At 76% Petite Sirah (along with 20% Syrah and 4$ Viognier) I was expecting a tannic monster, but instead found a very smooth wine with soft tannins. The wine is a dark inky purple color. Plenty of blue and black fruits, with a little spice and chocolate. Delicious! Drinking well now, but will likely continue to improve with some age.
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Tasted with DJ Warner at Keplinger in Saint Helena alongside the 2013 Lithic and the new 2013 Mars (to be released January 2016).
The 2013 Sumo is a vibrant purple color, with notes of purple and black fruits, blackberry, boysenberry, blueberry, wet rock, chalk, and violets.
As with most young Sumos, the Viognier component (though only a mere 4%) was quite prominent, creating a higher toned, less seemingly rich wine at this stage in the game. I find I have to wait at least a couple of years after release before Sumos truly start to integrate and fatten up a bit. Wait until at least 2017/2018 on the 2013 Sumo. 92+ for now, with most definite upside potential in a few years.
Unfortunately I tasted the Mars first in the lineup, which blew away the Sumo and the Lithic. So admittedly, my impressions of the Sumo and Lithic might be skewed a bit because I was still tasting the extraordinary finish of the Mars on my palate while trying to assess the Sumo and Lithic.
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1/16/2022 - JustBreathe680 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Purchased direct from Keplinger during a library release in 2021. Decanted for approximately 90 minutes and poured back into the bottle. Drank over 2 days out of Gassl Liberte stems. No food pairing on either day. Both days pretty consistent but maybe a hair better on day 2.
Color is as dark purple as dark as you can get before black. Nose of of blue fruits, flowers and a little baking spice. Taste of some redder fruits but predominantly overripe/baked blueberry pie and hints of baking spices. There is medium acidity and a fine tannin grip. It is full bodied, smooth and well balanced.
This is the perfect wine for a -1 degree Sunday, a burning fireplace and watching the NFL Wild Card weekend!
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12/15/2021 - Dine&Vine Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very polished wine. Blueberry, huckleberry and spice. Has soften over the last two years.
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11/22/2021 - Ralphie1 Likes this wine:
Fabulous structure. Will continue to improve.
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11/22/2021 - Crunge Likes this wine: 93 Points
Full-bodied with blood/iron, black fruits, and a bit of slate. No pepper, which I often get with PS and Syrah.
Smoother than many PS, well integrated, and past the rough stage. Excellent depth and paired perfectly with lamb on the grill. I see no signs of this fading.
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5/2/2021 - Ralphie1 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Beautiful wine! Will continue to be great for many years.
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7/2/2020 - Immigrator wrote: 92 Points
Pretty nice petite sirah blend.
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3/18/2020 - PasoWallaWill wrote: 92 Points
Big and balanced.
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3/1/2020 - ozziewine Likes this wine: 91 Points
This is elegant and plush, super dark inky color, dark fruit...the addition of Viognier was interesting and helped w/the complexity.
In hindsight, I liked this better on opening than after a couple hours of air. Initially it had more verve, though it was a tad rough on the palate...after air it was much smoother and elegant (and really nice to drink) but ultimately was less compelling.
Also suggest serving this slightly chilled.
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6/20/2019 - mdvillaverde wrote: 93 Points
76% Petite Sirah, 20% Syrah, and 4% Viognier. 14.9% ABV. PnP. Has the fleshiness of the syrah, and the tea and mint notes on the finish of the viognier. Doesn't have the intensity one can find with petitite sirah. Pure, refreshing, juicy fruit.
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2/21/2019 - LiteItOnFire Likes this wine: 93 Points
PnP what a great PS. Color dark purple. First blush says not for the faint of heart but it pulls you in with well integrated tannins, dark fruit, maybe smoke/tar and a great spice to lift the middle reminding you its a PS. Great wine has years and years to go. Opened at the start of its long drinking window- would like to try this in another 2-3 years or more. 93 with upside.
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12/19/2018 - BadOyster wrote: 94 Points
wonderfully integrated at this age. polished minerally entry with a slight funk that lasts but a second before transitioning to red and dark fruits with polished tannins. great petite sirah based wine - happy to bring it to a wine nerd party.
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12/30/2017 - jmcnewjersey Likes this wine: 94 Points
Very nice wine. Decanted for an hour. Tannins are smooth yet still noticeable, suggesting a long life ahead. Dark fruit notes are not obstructed by any heavy oak, which is refreshing. Wine is drinking fine now, but I suspect that it can be laid down for many years and will be just as good or even better.
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11/17/2017 - jmcnewjersey Likes this wine: 93 Points
Night 1: Dark ruby color. Unexpected vegetal notes on the nose. Medium-full bodied on palate, with some nice fruit, but expected more. 92 points. Night 2 - the vegetal notes dissipated, and the smooth black tar notes of Petite Sirah became prominent. I would bump score up to 93, and recommend a decant if you decide to open a bottle now.
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9/17/2017 - Tyler C Likes this wine: 94 Points
Winner. I have been buying the Sumo since '10 and this is by far the best one - IMHO. Super firm tannis - built to last decades. Though I haven't checked my other bottles I suspect this on of the lowest Viognier amounts with only 4% and it works. I love the dark dark, almost tar, fruits on the start with a huge finish. Past vintage have been a little to floral for my liking in a Petite. Outstanding. I will trying to drink the next one in a year +.
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2/10/2017 - skurtz Likes this wine: 92 Points
This is a firm oaky fruit forward petite sirah. Tasted at Garth's.
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1/15/2017 - jyensan Likes this wine: 93 Points
I agree with the other notes. The tannins are firm but pleasant, and the dark fruits are prominent right from the beginning. Decanted for about an hour and my wife enjoyed it over the next 3. It just kept getting better, so some more time in the bottle should do it well.
I am extremely impressed with all of the Keplinger offerings I've tried. Glad I have plenty more in the cellar!
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1/3/2017 - Jimaronson wrote: 94 Points
Although the name suggests big and bold the wine was soft and fruity. Nicely balanced with layers of dark fruits. A bit strong on its tannins so a couple more years would help. However, wine is perfectly fine to open now and enjoy. The wine went well with the chicken, olive, prune baked dish.
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8/13/2016 - sonodoc Likes this wine: 93 Points
Had as a pop and pour at the Melting Pot in Raleigh. At 76% Petite Sirah (along with 20% Syrah and 4$ Viognier) I was expecting a tannic monster, but instead found a very smooth wine with soft tannins. The wine is a dark inky purple color. Plenty of blue and black fruits, with a little spice and chocolate. Delicious! Drinking well now, but will likely continue to improve with some age.
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7/29/2016 - franinnyc Likes this wine: 92 Points
Excellent. Still young Needs more time.
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9/18/2015 - csimm wrote: 92 Points
Tasted with DJ Warner at Keplinger in Saint Helena alongside the 2013 Lithic and the new 2013 Mars (to be released January 2016).
The 2013 Sumo is a vibrant purple color, with notes of purple and black fruits, blackberry, boysenberry, blueberry, wet rock, chalk, and violets.
As with most young Sumos, the Viognier component (though only a mere 4%) was quite prominent, creating a higher toned, less seemingly rich wine at this stage in the game. I find I have to wait at least a couple of years after release before Sumos truly start to integrate and fatten up a bit. Wait until at least 2017/2018 on the 2013 Sumo. 92+ for now, with most definite upside potential in a few years.
Unfortunately I tasted the Mars first in the lineup, which blew away the Sumo and the Lithic. So admittedly, my impressions of the Sumo and Lithic might be skewed a bit because I was still tasting the extraordinary finish of the Mars on my palate while trying to assess the Sumo and Lithic.
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