Lovely ruby color. The nose has a creamy component, which I was surprised by. Dark tart fruits, tar, strong vanilla.
Tastewise, again very strong vanilla, and a creamy flavor combined with a strong espresso one gives it an almost tiramisu sensation. Strong buttery taste and smell too, which I didn't expect from a red. Overall this wine has the flavors of decadent desserts, baked goods, but not in a sweet way like a dessert wine. It's in the undertones. It's not blatant. There's also a hint of fresh tobacco.
There's another smell and taste that is very recognizable to me, but I can't identify it. But again, it reminds me of decadent, buttery baked goods. A bit of wood. Best on the midpalate, an average finish.
Interesting wine. I'm not raving over it, but I'm extremely intrigued by the buttery, baked goods component. It's pleasant for an $8 wine. Good for a weeknight. I had it with jerk chicken and steamed broccoli. Normally it would be too strong with chicken, but jerk sauce is pungent and pairs well with a red.
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Long thin legs, gorgeous, very dark violet-garnet colour. Nose is a bit subdued; light cedar, blackberry, tart cherry, a bit of spice & heat.
Pleasantly sour, lovely acidity. Smooth tannins - could do with some more, in fact - not 'weak' but not 'big' either. Medium-bodied. Blackberry, blueberry, very light cedar and moderate, tasty oak. Sour and bing cherry. Loooooong, slightly hot finish with spicy black pepper. I decanted this for an hour. It's enjoyable, but a bit simple and not as bold as I like for a PS.
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Hmmm. Blackberry aromas with blackberry, chocolate, and espresso palate. Very hot finish. Will taste tomorrow, but at present not one of the better Petite Sirahs I've had lately.
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dark but not overwhelming. cherries, cocoa and smoke on the nose and palate. full-bodied with nice black fruits and some smoke and pepper. not a bad choice for $12.
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Upon opening, nose is mostly alcohol, with a little tobacco/strawberry. Initial sip before decanting is BIG tannins that coat the top of my tongue, and some tart fruit (cranberry?). Two and a half hours later the alcohol nose has blown off, and I get plum and vegetal scents. A taste reveals that the tannins have calmed down some, and grip the sides of my tongues instead of all of it. The flavors that come through are predominately blackberry and floral (violet?), with a red licorice finish. Hour 3.5 reveals black pepper and more alcohol flavors. Hour six has begun to reveal very clean dark fruit flavors. I'm tasting a mix of blackberries and blueberries, and there's just a hint of tannins. I really like it now! Hour seven has continued to showcase the dark fruits, and there is definitely a floral character to the wine, like violets. So basically you need to decant this for six hours if you want to drink it now, or lay it down for a few years.
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A nice surprise, this. Clean, elegant and very well balanced...one of the better balanced petite sirahs, and certainly great qpr. Nice mix of dark fruits, including blueberry, decent finish, with some herbal quality. Will buy again.
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Nice nose; long llegs; smooth tannin; complex; full bodied; peppery; spiced; heat toward the end; nice with meal. Better after 2hr decant. I would buy and drink again. I have not have what I would described as excellent or outstanding.( I expect to be blown away it the taste.) So this will not get the 85+ range
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1/28/2012 - clwagner wrote: 75 Points
It would have been better if drank in one sitting and not leaving over night.
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8/20/2009 - wyldwoman wrote: 87 Points
This is my first petite sirah. Very interesting.
Lovely ruby color. The nose has a creamy component, which I was surprised by. Dark tart fruits, tar, strong vanilla.
Tastewise, again very strong vanilla, and a creamy flavor combined with a strong espresso one gives it an almost tiramisu sensation. Strong buttery taste and smell too, which I didn't expect from a red. Overall this wine has the flavors of decadent desserts, baked goods, but not in a sweet way like a dessert wine. It's in the undertones. It's not blatant. There's also a hint of fresh tobacco.
There's another smell and taste that is very recognizable to me, but I can't identify it. But again, it reminds me of decadent, buttery baked goods. A bit of wood. Best on the midpalate, an average finish.
Interesting wine. I'm not raving over it, but I'm extremely intrigued by the buttery, baked goods component. It's pleasant for an $8 wine. Good for a weeknight. I had it with jerk chicken and steamed broccoli. Normally it would be too strong with chicken, but jerk sauce is pungent and pairs well with a red.
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7/29/2009 - martcouz wrote: 82 Points
Honnest red
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6/15/2009 - csu.viticulture wrote:
Luscious red fruit, blueberry, and black berry on the standard Petite Sirah nose. Very rich mouthfeel. Dark and concentrated with good QPR at $10.
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3/19/2009 - fairnymph wrote: 86 Points
Long thin legs, gorgeous, very dark violet-garnet colour. Nose is a bit subdued; light cedar, blackberry, tart cherry, a bit of spice & heat.
Pleasantly sour, lovely acidity. Smooth tannins - could do with some more, in fact - not 'weak' but not 'big' either. Medium-bodied. Blackberry, blueberry, very light cedar and moderate, tasty oak. Sour and bing cherry. Loooooong, slightly hot finish with spicy black pepper. I decanted this for an hour. It's enjoyable, but a bit simple and not as bold as I like for a PS.
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3/7/2009 - Greginnd wrote: 85 Points
For less than $8, this is a great QPR. Not a bad PS at all. More complex and interesting than I expected.
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3/3/2009 - drdebs wrote: 83 Points
Hmmm. Blackberry aromas with blackberry, chocolate, and espresso palate. Very hot finish. Will taste tomorrow, but at present not one of the better Petite Sirahs I've had lately.
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1/24/2009 - isaacjamesbaker wrote:
dark but not overwhelming. cherries, cocoa and smoke on the nose and palate. full-bodied with nice black fruits and some smoke and pepper. not a bad choice for $12.
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1/9/2009 - darlenee1 wrote: 87 Points
Upon opening, nose is mostly alcohol, with a little tobacco/strawberry. Initial sip before decanting is BIG tannins that coat the top of my tongue, and some tart fruit (cranberry?). Two and a half hours later the alcohol nose has blown off, and I get plum and vegetal scents. A taste reveals that the tannins have calmed down some, and grip the sides of my tongues instead of all of it. The flavors that come through are predominately blackberry and floral (violet?), with a red licorice finish. Hour 3.5 reveals black pepper and more alcohol flavors. Hour six has begun to reveal very clean dark fruit flavors. I'm tasting a mix of blackberries and blueberries, and there's just a hint of tannins. I really like it now! Hour seven has continued to showcase the dark fruits, and there is definitely a floral character to the wine, like violets. So basically you need to decant this for six hours if you want to drink it now, or lay it down for a few years.
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12/5/2008 - ProfessorHTF wrote: 86 Points
A nice surprise, this. Clean, elegant and very well balanced...one of the better balanced petite sirahs, and certainly great qpr. Nice mix of dark fruits, including blueberry, decent finish, with some herbal quality. Will buy again.
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11/23/2008 - Sakedrinker wrote: 84 Points
Nice nose; long llegs; smooth tannin; complex; full bodied; peppery; spiced; heat toward the end; nice with meal. Better after 2hr decant. I would buy and drink again. I have not have what I would described as excellent or outstanding.( I expect to be blown away it the taste.) So this will not get the 85+ range
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