Draper’s note on the back label recommends 3 or 4 years of bottle age from release (in May 1999). 25 years later, this is mature but by no means tired. Medium-deep ruby with a garnet edge, still showing some primary dark fruit on opening; with half an hour of air, it becomes a velvet slide of blue-black fruit, tar, and tobacco, with some fine tannin still on the finish. Deep and complex, and keeps getting better until the last drop. Excellent.
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This is great. Still youthful almost purple on the color. Lots of black fruits both on the nose and palette. Tannins are starting to resolve but to be honest they have never been harsh. I will try my next, and last, bottle after 2025, but even then I won’t feel any rush. Fantastic wine.
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The first sniff tells you it means business. By far the classiest and most balanced petite sirah I ever had. Inky dark with scarlet red at the rim, dark berries, plum, subtle touch of smoke and graphite. Medium bodied, long and fragrant. Tannins either gone or so well coated you do not notice. At peak but will likely stay there for a good while. Why wait? Enjoy them if you have them!
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A very slow aging wine. Still young and primary, rustic and a rough. With lots and lots of air, it started to liven up, but still probably needs some time in the cellar.
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A Tasting of Petite Sirahs (My Home): Not a good showing for this and quite a surprise when it came in last for the group. No obvious flaws (it did get one WOTN vote). opaque purple in color. The nose is dusty but not much else going on. Raspberries and chocolate on the palate, but a bit thin. Its a nice wine, but lacking. I bought this about 7 years ago from a retailer with good storage, but who knows.
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More linear in style than the 1996, yet still with lots of fruit and plenty of structure. I find the balance to be more correct here. Would seem ideally set for extended aging.
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Back, Back in the USofA (StrEat Restaurant, Austin, Texas): Had a dark purple core leading into a ruby red rim, was not showing any signs of age. Its fruit aromas and flavors include rich and jammy blackberries, black cherries, ripe blueberries, and black raspberries, a touch of dried herbs and kalamata olive, dark chocolate, purple flowers, tobacco, and vanilla. The wine wine was slightly tight and really not showing any evolution, but it was full-bodied, well-balanced, and had lots of structure. This wine was the favorite in a flight of older zinfandels and petite sirahs.
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subdued nose - the tannins are still evident but wonderful flavours of pepper and spice - the fruit is quite gentle now and no doubt starting to fade - a delicious and interesting wine - drink soon
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Really fine, better than a 96 consumed this past May. Lots of bramble fruit, some plum, a dash of chocolate, and this rounded, subdued core of tannins that hints at this wine's beastly, brawny youth. Predominately primary at age 13, I suppose I'll hold my last one until it reaches legal drinking age, 18 or 21 years of age.
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Had a fuller nose than the ’92. The fruit was richer and brighter. There was still a nice herbal, brambly component. Violets and blackberry juice. Was also more open on the palate than the ’92. The tannins still had good grip. The acidity was still very fresh, which gave the berry flavors a fresh zip. Long, peppery finish with an herbal tinge that was very pleasant. This will also last for a long while yet.
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surprisingly youthful for a wine 12 years old. nuanced black fruit, perfume. still forward oak and tannins -- give this some more time. aging impressively.
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Deep purple; almost black and opaque. Extremely oaky and brambly in the manner of the Ridge Zinfandels. The woodiness creates an impression of harshness for me. At 12 years of age I wonder if that lumber would ever integrate sufficiently for my personal taste. Not as hot or alcoholic, though, as many of the latter day Ridge wines. The fruit has certainly held up well, but seems to me overwhelmed by the heavy dose of oak. For admirers of this style, however, this has years ahead of it.
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Very tight and foursquare upon opening with the oak very prominent and a mass of black fruited flavours underneath. This transforms completely after being open a day, with the oak integrating beautifully and developing nuances of smoky, meaty and tarry flavours to add complexity to the rich dark fruits. Very enjoyable, and should be a real beauty with time.
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I meant to open the '95 vintage of this wine, but I grabbed the wrong bottle in the cellar, and didn't notice my mistake until after the cork was pulled. Absolutely delicious now, but this should age as effortlessly as some of the great earlier vintages.
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Good lord, this was a tannic beast. We didn't have a second decanter, and it could of used one. This thing still needs time to balance out. Once open a while, it had that great brambly, dusty dark berry nose. The tannins still need time, but there are great flavors here. That brambly, peppery dark berry flavor really holds it's own. This baby will definitely go years and years. On Day 2, from Eric whose house it was left, "Chocolate, hint of spice, vanilla, oak. Blackberries galore. What a wine!" On Day 3, from Eric, "The last glass today was still a thing of beauty"
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Tasted double blind. With twenty five wnes in tonight's tasting, my notes for the last flight were very basic. Red fruit and mint notes with flavors of dark fruit.
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Huge black, inky, tannic monster. Softened on the second day and was more approachable. Huge black plums, fair amount of oak, still with balanced acidity. Wouldn't mind seeing this a few years down the road.
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This was incredibly tight the night that I opened it, showing very little other than oak and tar, so I stuck the cork back in and returned it to the cellar. The next night was a totally different story. The nose had really blossomed, revealing tons of dark crushed berries, smoke, resin, and asphalt. Very structured, but balanced and layered on the palate, with more dark fruit, chocolate, and a great impression of grilled steak. Tannic, but nice, mouthfeel, and a very long, persistent finish. This is a great petite sirah that clearly needs more time. I look forward to finishing my last bottle of this in about 25 years.
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4/5/2024 - ppmm wrote:
Draper’s note on the back label recommends 3 or 4 years of bottle age from release (in May 1999). 25 years later, this is mature but by no means tired. Medium-deep ruby with a garnet edge, still showing some primary dark fruit on opening; with half an hour of air, it becomes a velvet slide of blue-black fruit, tar, and tobacco, with some fine tannin still on the finish. Deep and complex, and keeps getting better until the last drop. Excellent.
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6/4/2020 - djs Likes this wine: 92 Points
Just terrific. Some complexity. Lots of black fruits, plenty of tannin structure. Bravo
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12/8/2018 - Duvnäs Wine wrote: 93 Points
This is great. Still youthful almost purple on the color. Lots of black fruits both on the nose and palette. Tannins are starting to resolve but to be honest they have never been harsh. I will try my next, and last, bottle after 2025, but even then I won’t feel any rush. Fantastic wine.
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12/30/2015 - beekeeper wrote: 94 Points
The first sniff tells you it means business. By far the classiest and most balanced petite sirah I ever had. Inky dark with scarlet red at the rim, dark berries, plum, subtle touch of smoke and graphite. Medium bodied, long and fragrant. Tannins either gone or so well coated you do not notice. At peak but will likely stay there for a good while. Why wait? Enjoy them if you have them!
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11/19/2012 - robmatic wrote: 89 Points
A very slow aging wine. Still young and primary, rustic and a rough. With lots and lots of air, it started to liven up, but still probably needs some time in the cellar.
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4/19/2012 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 86 Points
A Tasting of Petite Sirahs (My Home): Not a good showing for this and quite a surprise when it came in last for the group. No obvious flaws (it did get one WOTN vote). opaque purple in color. The nose is dusty but not much else going on. Raspberries and chocolate on the palate, but a bit thin. Its a nice wine, but lacking. I bought this about 7 years ago from a retailer with good storage, but who knows.
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9/6/2011 - Rieslingfan wrote:
More linear in style than the 1996, yet still with lots of fruit and plenty of structure. I find the balance to be more correct here. Would seem ideally set for extended aging.
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6/11/2011 - austinwinesalon wrote:
Back, Back in the USofA (StrEat Restaurant, Austin, Texas): Had a dark purple core leading into a ruby red rim, was not showing any signs of age. Its fruit aromas and flavors include rich and jammy blackberries, black cherries, ripe blueberries, and black raspberries, a touch of dried herbs and kalamata olive, dark chocolate, purple flowers, tobacco, and vanilla. The wine wine was slightly tight and really not showing any evolution, but it was full-bodied, well-balanced, and had lots of structure. This wine was the favorite in a flight of older zinfandels and petite sirahs.
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5/10/2011 - hargy wrote: 90 Points
subdued nose - the tannins are still evident but wonderful flavours of pepper and spice - the fruit is quite gentle now and no doubt starting to fade - a delicious and interesting wine - drink soon
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3/8/2011 - WineDoctors wrote: 88 Points
With beef short ribs. world of pinot. more complexity than 96. Definite drink now.
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7/22/2010 - suttonri wrote: 92 Points
Really fine, better than a 96 consumed this past May. Lots of bramble fruit, some plum, a dash of chocolate, and this rounded, subdued core of tannins that hints at this wine's beastly, brawny youth. Predominately primary at age 13, I suppose I'll hold my last one until it reaches legal drinking age, 18 or 21 years of age.
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2/19/2010 - Beavis77 wrote:
Had a fuller nose than the ’92. The fruit was richer and brighter. There was still a nice herbal, brambly component. Violets and blackberry juice.
Was also more open on the palate than the ’92. The tannins still had good grip. The acidity was still very fresh, which gave the berry flavors a fresh zip. Long, peppery finish with an herbal tinge that was very pleasant.
This will also last for a long while yet.
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2/19/2010 - nzinkgraf wrote:
Arthritis Foundation Connoiseurs' Room (Pfister Hotel, Milwaukee): very nicely cherry fruited with beautiful florals on the palate. so youthful, but the 1992 will go longer. today this is the more enjoyable of the two. i love these wines.
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2/19/2010 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
More primary fruit then the 1992 at this point. Almost in balanced one might say. Green apple grippiness.
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12/21/2009 - ews3 wrote: 92 Points
surprisingly youthful for a wine 12 years old. nuanced black fruit, perfume. still forward oak and tannins -- give this some more time. aging impressively.
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11/30/2009 - slanum wrote:
Deep purple; almost black and opaque. Extremely oaky and brambly in the manner of the Ridge Zinfandels. The woodiness creates an impression of harshness for me. At 12 years of age I wonder if that lumber would ever integrate sufficiently for my personal taste. Not as hot or alcoholic, though, as many of the latter day Ridge wines. The fruit has certainly held up well, but seems to me overwhelmed by the heavy dose of oak. For admirers of this style, however, this has years ahead of it.
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11/13/2009 - salil wrote: 91 Points
Very tight and foursquare upon opening with the oak very prominent and a mass of black fruited flavours underneath. This transforms completely after being open a day, with the oak integrating beautifully and developing nuances of smoky, meaty and tarry flavours to add complexity to the rich dark fruits. Very enjoyable, and should be a real beauty with time.
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4/10/2009 - Spencer wrote: 93 Points
I meant to open the '95 vintage of this wine, but I grabbed the wrong bottle in the cellar, and didn't notice my mistake until after the cork was pulled. Absolutely delicious now, but this should age as effortlessly as some of the great earlier vintages.
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12/24/2008 - Beavis77 wrote:
Good lord, this was a tannic beast. We didn't have a second decanter, and it could of used one. This thing still needs time to balance out. Once open a while, it had that great brambly, dusty dark berry nose. The tannins still need time, but there are great flavors here. That brambly, peppery dark berry flavor really holds it's own. This baby will definitely go years and years.
On Day 2, from Eric whose house it was left, "Chocolate, hint of spice, vanilla, oak. Blackberries galore. What a wine!"
On Day 3, from Eric, "The last glass today was still a thing of beauty"
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9/21/2008 - Oruor wrote:
Enjoyed a lot this wine. Good balance.
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4/13/2008 - AllRed wrote: 90 Points
Tasted double blind. With twenty five wnes in tonight's tasting, my notes for the last flight were very basic. Red fruit and mint notes with flavors of dark fruit.
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7/21/2007 - Spencer wrote: 92 Points
Great wine, but this still needs a lot more time. I probably won't touch another bottle for ten years or so.
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8/7/2006 - jjclips2 wrote: 91 Points
Huge black, inky, tannic monster. Softened on the second day and was more approachable. Huge black plums, fair amount of oak, still with balanced acidity. Wouldn't mind seeing this a few years down the road.
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9/24/2005 - amred wrote: 90 Points
1/05: Solid, good fruit. Not as much pepper anticipated, but good fruit. Somewhat tight, better 2nd day.
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6/2/2005 - Spencer wrote: 92 Points
This was incredibly tight the night that I opened it, showing very little other than oak and tar, so I stuck the cork back in and returned it to the cellar. The next night was a totally different story. The nose had really blossomed, revealing tons of dark crushed berries, smoke, resin, and asphalt. Very structured, but balanced and layered on the palate, with more dark fruit, chocolate, and a great impression of grilled steak. Tannic, but nice, mouthfeel, and a very long, persistent finish. This is a great petite sirah that clearly needs more time. I look forward to finishing my last bottle of this in about 25 years.
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12/25/2000 - SadEdjo wrote:
blackberry & white/black pepper
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