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EP 808 Petite Sirah Tasting

Gary focuses on an interesting grape called Petite Sirah and tastes 3 from Napa Valley.

Wines tasted in this episode:

2006 Elyse Petite Sirah RutherfordNapa Petite Sirah
2005 Corte Riva Petite SirahNapa Petite Sirah
2006 Robert Foley Pepperland Petite SirahNapa Petite Sirah


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luca bercelli

89/100

lines of the day – ‘Lady Gaga got screwed at the Grammys’ and ‘This is not what you want to serve at a house party if you love your carpet’

Tags: napa, Petite, red, review, Sirah, Video, wine, wines

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  • zrm

    Almost Bipolar today Gary. You get hit fast with some huge flavor and then you think. Its a surprise birthday party then you realize that your wife invited the neighbors you dont like… All of them.
    QOD: Usually like the Petite Sirah.

    QOD2: Hugely disappointed with graduate school. Thought it was going to be something different. Maybe I am in the wrong thing

    sigh
    -ZRM

  • KVM1985

    1. The only petit syrah I've ever had (other than I'm sure in blends) was the Bogle because I found it for $7.99 (MY kind of price range). Any other suggestions for petit syrahs to try under $15? (I think I saw someone else ask this earlier too…)

    2. Disappointment – Applying for jobs. I started my hunt very enthusiastically, thinking about all the exciting possibilities; now I'm frustrated and anxious.

  • aaroncello

    Visiting my girlfriend out of town. She didn't have a wine opener, got a delicious Australian Petetie Syrah under 10 bucks, screw top, it was delicious. Simple, very simple, but delicious. And perfect for making Beef bourguignon, I thought at least.
    QOTD: I was hoping Tsonga was going to bring the Thunder against Federer. Still, I love watching Federer (or anyone for that matter) play great tennis.

  • robrx

    QOTD#1- I am guessing that you are comparing CA petite sirah to CA Cabernet blends with your low scoring today? For me, that is unfair, and it is something I see not only you but all wine critics do. When was the last time you saw a Parker 100 point Pinot blanc? A Wine Spectator 97 point charbono? Almost never! It's like asking a local deli to compete with Per Se for amazing food. It's just not fair. To me petite sirah is the wine to drink with barbeque or Mexican food.

    I realize the 100 point scale was forced on you and many by the popularity of Parker with the masses, but even he should score “within the varietal”, not as compared to Ch. Latour or Dalla Valle Maya. Sometimes you just want great deli.

  • tracymercer

    I've said it before and I'll say it again: Go, run, and find Rosenblum's Heritage Clones PS! It's $15.99 in California and it will deliver the complexity that today's wines were lacking . . . I love this stuff.

    Big disappointment: that esoteric French White you featured about 6 months ago that needed like 4-6 hours decanting . . . wifey and I just couldn't figure it out at all, it smelled like cat p—. Gave one to a friend I don't like very much and have four left over that I am hoping will develop into something extraordinary (I do trust you Gary).

  • Mark Tolerico

    Would love to see how you would like the '04 or '05 Foley… the '06 just didnt' do it for me either…

  • Mexico.

  • cubs2806

    Recently had a 06 frogs leap PS and i found it to be pretty good, but i got half off because i knew someone there so it was like 17 bones.

  • kylemittskus

    Chris Columbus thought he had found India, hence the United States' population calling Native Americans “Indians.” Woo hoo for mistakes no one bothers to change!!!

    Um… F that cat that called you a “fraud.”

    Disappointment struck when I hit grad school and realized there were still dirt bags there who didn't give a shit.

  • Anonymous

    Im an exgamer. Gave it up recently. I know the misery you feel over a bad game especially when you drop 50 bones for one.
    Oh, welcome now EX-lurker!!!

  • dkp

    no need for the email alerts gary.

  • dkp

    no need for the email alerts about the show

  • dz

    Stags Leap Winery Petit Sirah was something my brother and I would always order in a restaurant when we first started getting into serious wines 20 yrs ago or so, bigger is better right? Recently I tried it again and had much the same experience you did, rustic was the word that sprung into my head while finesse and balance are what I'd rather drink these days. Here is a question of the day for anyone to answer, how can anyone who smokes cigars not have a corrupt palate? When I've smoked a cigar that's all that I can taste for a couple of days. Would a port or portlike wine be the appropriate drink for this type of critic?

  • Phil – Boston

    Gary

    On PS: I have had nearly all of Bob Foley's PS wines. Switchback Ridge, Corte Riva and his own label and must say that something is wrong if that wine is not turning you on a bit. 2006 was a bit of a let down, but try these wines in 1999, 2002, 2004 and 2005 and I think you will be more impressed. I am usually gunned up to drink a purple people eater with huge 15%+ (sometimes 16%) level extraction. I agree it is not an all the time thing, but I love the giant dose of Black Berry, Currant, Road Tar, Pepper and Fig that is usually balanced with flavors like Violet and Perfume that makes these wine Velvet Gloves in Iron Fists. Smack me then love me wines like this are often more fun to drink with a big steak than the Napa Cabs I often love. Really disappointed that these wines did not make the GV grade. Decant overnight and see what you think tomorrow.

    QOTD: Biggest dissappointment recently … My expectations were set very very high for Avatar … very bleh for me. Huge let down.

  • Just a side question for you Gary… Any chance you would give shout outs to when your next session on Ustream will be? I would like to catch it and I'm sure others would be too.

  • drt999

    Got some Twisted Oak ps, need to try some soon

  • oleole

    Had a 2003 Peirano Estate PS in 2008 and in 2009, each for Thanksgiving. The first bottle I found very thin in flavor, tannic and kind of watery herbal. Became disinterested in PS. Then last year, tried it again and it was wonderful. Did it evolve, or is it bottle variation? Surely a lot with situation. Anyhow… I did find you can have great PS for less than $15.

    QOTD2: In many cases, big expectations leading to disappointments keeps us guessing and life interesting – take nothing for granted and be ready for surprise. Isn't it nice that RP 92 score is no guarantee – and neither is GV score of 88 (for $55). No consolation to those of you job interviewing (see below)… Except: I guess you can find your “RP” that loves you as you are.

  • lmyer

    QOTD #1: My only petite sirah experience was a bottle of Bogle, which I didn't like. Now, because of this episode I need to try another one. It would be too easy to use this episode as an excuse to not try another PS.

    QOTD #2: Probably my first bottle of chassagne montrachet. It was delicious, but not $$$ delicious.

    BTW, I'm looking forward to the banyuls tasting. I've been wanting this for awhile.

  • grizzlymaker

    Durif is actually a cross of Syrah & Peloursin. Recently, TTB announced that all bottlings must be labeled PETITE SIRAH, no alternative spellings will be accepted

  • NY Pete

    hey Gary, what's a BLN?

  • QOTD; Cantina Zaccagnini Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2006, I was expecting a lighter style. This was way to dry and tannic to be Mont d'abrzo. It was trying to be a Chianti. This wine is everywhere in CT, it's very popular. It tastes like the little twig on the bottle. Maybe that's actually a warning of the Oak Monster.

  • StevenL

    Love the Quick Facts.
    Taste Along is a good idea.
    QOTD- Recently enjoyed a Santa Rita Floresta PS from Chile- very good. The better Petite is Verdot.
    Good Critical discussion that is often lacking with Guests- I would have liked to hear this talk about big purple monsters on the last two CNP shows.
    QOTD2- Disappointment- Southern Rhone- 2003 and 2005 just too hot- Alcool way to Big and over the top.

  • Good to see a PS to kick off the week.

    QOTD: Love PS, usually always at least decent, but rarely blown away.
    QOTD2: To be fair I haven't really been that disappointed in a while, but I tend to be very rational about my expectations, like knowing my Phins would be a 6-10 to 9-7 team this year with that schedule. I guess I would have to go back to last fall and I watched “City of Men” fine movie, but no where close to the first one, “City of God”, which is one of the greatest movies of all time.

  • RonDariling

    This is a interesting show for me. I fell in love with wine on a trip to Napa a few years back and PS was the wine i fell for. Since then, as I have been introduced to more wines and can start to agree where you are coming from GV. A question for you though, have you ever had Vincent Arroyo PS??? I havent had a year that hasnt blown me away.

    Biggest let down question: The 2009 Mets

  • RonDarling

    Oh, and I loved the Cedric Caballos reference

  • SeanieBoy

    QOTD#1: Never had a petite sirah.
    QOTD#2: Never been a Vikings fan, but coming from Oklahoma, Adrian is the man. Way disappointed in the outcome of the NFC Championship. Farve Vs. Manning would have been one for the ages.

    Gary, quick question for you. I've been expanding my palate with white wines, and was wondering what white wine would go good with rosemary chicken? Had a delicious Sauvignon Blanc with orange roughy tonight!

    BTW, LOVE the Friday preview idea!!

  • JeffMastroianni

    Not my favorite grape, but have had a few good ones over the years.

    Loved when you said “petite sirah let me down”, great to be upset with an inanimate object!

    QOTD: Nothing with wine, but did buy some expensive artisan cheeses and several of them were not very good.

  • JiminAtlanta

    I think petite sirahs are generally good tasting, but I tend to like the old world sytles more. I am frequently disappointed by highly rated and high priced wines. I used to buy wines according to ratings and have since determined that my tastes do not often follow the experts who rate the wines. I use my local wine shops to help me and they get to know my tastes better than the ratings could ever do. While I enjoy trying expensive wines, I find them not exciting more often than not and over priced. Tonight I am trying a dolcetto that I bought on Saturday after watching a recent episode. It is quite good at a reasonable price. Thanks for recommending dolcetto.

  • ONUMello

    QOTD1: I had the Bogle Petite Syrah you had on the show about a year ago. Like the wines on today's show, it was decent but nothing to get overly excited about.
    QOTD2: I just opened the 2008 Di Majo Norante Sangiovese yesterday. It's a 90 point WA wine, I gave it an 84- decent, but not at all great. (And that followed a second young wine I opened earlier that night that had turned to vinegar in the bottle thanks to a loose synthetic cork.)

  • DCaragher

    GV – I gotta tell ya man, I am diggin' on the honesty! It's part of the reason I've been around so long! Keep it up, good to hear you're back and rollin' regardless of the J-E-T-S.

    QOTD: 1.) I like petite sirah, not too much experience with it. The Bogle I think has always been a great value and eye opener for people not aware of the grape. 2.) I was most recently disappointed with some entry level and mid ranged Burgundy. It seems like too many producers are riding on Burgundian brand equity and are trying to get away with making quality wine! But what can you do…

    OUT!

  • Dan Caragher

    Good call on the Roseblum's!

  • I have never had petite sirah, but now I'm going to buy a bottle.

  • Joe Trdinich

    At the beginning of the decade Foppiano had three straight years of great Petite Sirah. When we went out to Sonoma and visited in 2006, 2007, and 2008 we were very disappointed in their recent bottlings. Since then we have been turned on by a small winery in Dry Creek Valley that makes a great Zin and a great Petite Sirah–Steve Zichichi. Try then out if you can buy some. Rosenblum makes a nice Petite Sirah. If looking for an inexpensive one try David Cafaro.

  • cubs2806

    good call on all those wineries, love zichichi and cafaro

  • GV…as a PETITE SIRAH producer, I would urge you to look at PS not as a Cabernet Sauvignon or even a Bordeaux/Meritage blend, but as it's own unique character. A wine with the structure of Cabernet, elegance of a Pinot Noir & perhaps even the fruit-forward characteristics of a Zinfandel or even a Grenache. I barrel age my PS for upwards of two years, the wines are typically racked once, just before bottling with minimal intervention aside from a little sur lie. I think that some of your disappointment from the tasting is unsettled because of your expectations.

  • stanvonhagen

    What Serendipity! I had just opened a Petite Syrah tonight for supper (Rosenblum – Heritage Clones 2006) – a big wine with a chocolate meets blackberry nose and deep plum and blackberry in the taste. However, I am posting this comment to correct a statement you made. Banyuls is not a Rhone wine. It is found near the Spanish border around and about the village of Collioure – famed painting spot of the Impressionists and Post-Impresionists. I first discovered Banyuls 6 years ago when visiting this region near the Pyrenees and renewed again last Summer. By the way, Banyuls is an AOC region of its own. It is at least a good days drive from the mouth of the Rhone (Carmague) and more than a days drive from the Rhone appellations. Sorry for the Geography lesson but, since this is one of my favorite areas of France, I thought I had to speak up. –Stan

  • Vivian

    Petite Syrah is my favorite wine. I like the big dark flavors with that peppery thing going on. Even though you weren't impressed with the ones you had on the show I like that you reviewed them. I've found that I expect a lot more from them with a bigger price tag.

  • NY Pete

    great post Brian … what wine do you produce?

  • mrpat56

    QOTD– I enjoy petite sirahs, but am happy with my Bogle and Vimuns Pets. These both deliver great taste and very good value. I see it over and over again in cork'd. We all love bogle, and so many call it their “go to” wine. Bogle petit sirah is one of mine for low cost deliciousness. Not too complex, just good.

  • I prefer 2007 to 2006 in petite sirah. Right when the 07's came out, I'd go back and forth between them, but over the next 12 months I became less and less interested in the 2006. Both are better to me than the 2005.

    QOTD: I was bummed that plans with friends in from out of town bombed out this weekend. Haven't seen some of them for a few months.

  • jeffisrad

    This episode got me wondering, Gary. What is the BEST Petite Sirah YOU have ever had? What would you have scored it? Is it possible that you just don't like the grape? If not, are there any grapes that you JUST DON'T LIKE?

  • Nate77

    QOTD1: only started drinking wines about a month ago so can't answer that one.

    QOTD2:We went to a local restaurant we've gone to a hundred times before and was always great.But this time it was horrible.

  • lordsauvignon

    Thank you for the honesty. We can see you were struggling there, but as always you came through. Thats what we love about you GV, you have solid, old fashion character. It is appreciated more than you know.

    QOTD1: I Enjoy Petite Sirah. My palate isn't as fine tuned, but from what I have tasted I have truly enjoyed the varietal, normally I pair it with red meat, but then again I pretty much pair all reds with red meat. I'm a fan.
    QOTD2: Biggest let down was 2006 Cab Sauv, Montes Classic Series from Chile. Wayyy too over oaked and earthy for me. It literally made me feel like I was biting a tree in Chile, then licking Chilean dirt. Not a fan.

    We don't think we are changing the wine world….We are

  • You should take revenge on the wines for letting you down. I say you reduce one of the bottles and make Stroganoff out of it. Turn a mediocre wine into an amazing dish.
    QOTD: My expectations for tomorrow's Lost season premiere are so high that I can only be let down. I really hope I'm wrong, but it's the last season of my favorite show, I really hope it delivers.
    As for wine, I had a really bad Tannat a few days ago that I expected to be amazing.

  • K_is_for_Kate

    I've only had one Petite Sirah, Michael David Winery's Earthquake, but I enjoyed it and am eager to try more. The darkness and deliciousness are both *very* appealing factors for me. With your breadth of tasting experience, though, I don't think it's at all harsh for you to rate in a way that reflects a desire to get more out of it than just the deliciousness factor. Really, these were pretty high scores compared to the somewhat random sampling of episodes I've watched from your back catalog.

    As for recent disappointments, I have to say the wine lists at several local restaurants here in Madison, Wisconsin. I ate at 5 nice places last week for Restaurant Week and none of them offered anything by the glass that I just *had* to try. In fact, a lot of what they sell by the glass I could buy a bottle for just a few bucks more. There were some interesting things by the bottle, but if I'm going to buy a bottle I'm not inclined to pay restaurant mark-ups on it.

  • Anonymous

    Yes that was a little confusing. I think they mean some years you need more stems to give it some complexity??????

  • Sometimes one must be hard. While I was watching, I'm thinking a splash of merlot might fill the hole in the middle.
    I enjoy a good petite sirah.
    My last disappointment, a low end bunello.

  • Lord Sauv, THANK U! Period, see u Friday 🙂

  • Here are the wines Gary was talking about in today's show for Friday

    http://winelibrary.com/wines/50097-2007+Casa+Bl…

    http://winelibrary.com/wines/49347-2006+Rectori…

  • u are correct about banyuls I often make that slip up as it was the 1st thing I thought years ago and I often remember it 🙁 I dont think I will make that mistake Friday!

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