castello, get there. One of my favorite vineyards in the valley. Now just understand, that in no way does the vineyard have a beautiful tasting room etc. I think the PS is around 50.

Concannon petite sirah was the first I tasted and Bogle was another popular petite sirah due to it's qpr. The last petite sirah I tried was from Rutherglen and surprised me with it's austerity. A very different expression of a favorite varietal of my youth that took me aback.

I contributed to a couple of bottles ha

I think you're right.

Well, yes, Roger seems to be something that doesn’t come along often. But what was it, 3 years ago? when Tsonga was dominating everyone then lost to Djokovic. Still looking for that same spark.

i’m totally lost. i somehow ended up on a fitness site.

robbiec… Ni hao ma?
Concha Y Toro’s Casillero Del Diablo line falls right into your price sweet spot. Very good value, and worth decanting. They have huge production and so I have to believe some of it gets through to you. I am super fond of Chilean wine myself, and would love to know what your selection is like over there. Zai Jian!

I think I would agree on the 'turning 21' if I remembered it better. . . .

QOTD 1: Different!
Stronger, bolder wines. Definitely more tannic in nature. Sometimes can generate a “Dry Bomb” that will eliminate ant sense of taste from your mouth.

QOTD 2: Took part in a Grenache based wine blind tasting. I thought that these wines will some more character then they actually did.

QOTD 1: I've never tasted an interesting, food friendly wine made from Petite Sirah. The grape is great for making simple, commercial wines though.

QOTD 2: Pingus 2001 was the most over-priced, over-hyped wine I have tasted. Had it next to a Bodegas Riojanas Monte Real 1964 which cost £100 and the much cheaper Monte Real was far more interesting.

I have found that Leonetti is quite good within two to three years of release especially the Merlot. The Cab can go a little longer. I am a big fan of this wine and was quite disappointed in this effort. Gary Figgins is a very gifted wine maker. I will not give up on him over one bottle.

I endorse your view on Petite Sirah wines: great body, dense, tannic, delicious, but extremely low in acid; which makes them taste flabby, with no mid-palate and a short finish.
Any wine that costs more than US$10, and was vinified in roto-fermenters can be labeled as an overpriced bomb (or a carbonated alcoholic drink). Unfortunately, there is a huge number of wines from Australia, South Africa and Piedmont (Barolos, Barbarescos, Barberas, …) that fall into that category.

Those Petite Sirah wines are in their developmental infancy. They should have been decanted for several hours, perhaps starting on the night before the recording. Top-tier PS are incredible wines when fully mature.

J. King, where are you from? Dont here many people talk about Lodi producers on this show. In fact I have only seen ONE lodi Wine on the show so far. Where is the love Gary? The QPR is fantastic in Lodi, and there are some good wines made here to boot.

Surprised that PSith Master Loweeel (PSycho’s Path blog – http://www.psychospath.com/) hasn’t taught you more about PS. Facts were interesting at the beginning, but you should mention that PS is one of the wines that can benefit from decanting (and some long times at that). The mid-palate problem may have been due to their not being open long enough. How long were the bottles open before you started drinking them?

Have really enjoyed PS wines, and just enjoyed a Rosenblum PS Heritage Clones with the family recently. Switchback PS has been very good as well, but better the longer it’s been open. Kent Rasmussen PS wines have also been excellent, but Kent believes that PS has a “dumb” phase that it can go thru starting around 10 to 15 years and lasting for around 5 years (or more?) before it opens up again.

Disappointed in not liking Ice Wines. Love Sauternes and other sweet dessert wines, but find that Ice Wines have been too syrupy for me.

QOTD #1: Every PS i have had, besides one i can recall, has had that thinness in the end, and a many times a lack of mid palate. Would always rather have the Bogle for way less money, and it delivers for the price point.

Recently though, a 2005 Seghesio Home Ranch Petit Sirah gave my mouth a good fun Wednesday night. It still though drank extremely young, and much better the next day.

QOTD #2: re: wine, we had a bottle of the Lamy Pillot Chassagne Montrachet Rouge, and were pretty jazzed on seeing what it brought to our palate, even is only for some palate training. But WHOA, did it under deliver, or just maybe it just was too awkward. dry dry like dried up flower dry with corn starch on top. disappointing, but happy i drank it.

Why can't I read comments while listening to the show? Also, when I click “view all” comments, it doesn't actually take you to them?it looks like it just stops the show. After doing this 3 times (definition of insanity), I figured out I needed to scroll down. Love the show btw.

He has talent in spades but sometimes other great players make him look slow. Too bad he gets injured so often and that creates inconsistency. Love to watch and play doubles twice a week. Some of the big boys are coming to San Jose for the SAP open next week. Be there.

thank you for your honesty Gary!

QOTD1- Petite Sirah-not my fav. maybe I should try old world PS – is there such a thing?
QOTD2- as of late- most california wines have been a let down, too much big fruit for me.

Cheers!

Hi Gary,

I love PS… Especially Foley's wines. Switchback is my favorite! – The Corte Riva is made by Rommel who was Foleys assistant winemaker when he was at Pride. Rommel is extremely talented and I love his wines, especially his Cab.
I have to disagree with you on this one, at least with wines 2 & 3… Those two wines are HUGE and need time to properly develop (decanting for many hours is a must, especially when they are this young). A few years in the bottle will allow them to properly integrate.
I will open an '06 Pepperland tonight with diner and taste it again (with and without the proper decanting)… You should ask Bob to come on the show, he is a really fantastic guy and most of his wines are truly amazing (especially with some age on them)… Try Switchback Ridge's PS, which is Kelly Petersen's wine (made by Bob Foley), it is truly one of the best wines I have tasted, but it has to be done with food because again, these are HUGE wines with lots of structure.
The difference between a great PS and one of lesser quality is HUGE, probably more apparent then almost any other varietal!
Too bad that you did not enjoy these wines and I hope that it does not turn people away from trying them as they are truly remarkable/memorable wines, but they need to be properly 'staged' in order to get the full monty!

totally agree with you about ps, from a vintners perspective it's merely a blending varietal. 1-dimensional at best and lacking a mid-palate with massive fruit and tannin. Plenty of fellow winemakers that swear by it but I just don't see it. Glad we can't grow it here in Va.

As a vintner in Virginia disheartned by fellow wineries releasing bad wines assuming the public is ignorant to faults and will consume anything, when they know it is bad just to save a buck. Overall hurting our burgeoning reputation. No integrity but the real good ones stay out of the spotlight and do there own thing trying to figure out variety and site and hope the entrepreneurial impatience will fade soon….

well said but how does a region gain respect that has grown by 20% in two years with an additional 12 more applying for a license as I write this. It has unfortunately grown into a tourist trap where the consumer comes into a tasting room and is bombarded with 25 feet of trinkets and gimmicks before they even reach the bar. Wine at this point is no longer the focus so one has to resort to weddings and limo rides and festivals to promote and sell ones product. But a select few are focusing on the variety, the land, and it’s people who have such a rich history of agriculture in general. I’ve been lucky enough to work for a few of them. Try an Aglianico from Villa Appalaccia or a Vidal/Riesling blend from Linden or even a Merlot from Aspen Dale Winery at the Barn. These truly show what Virginia is capable of delivering. By the way where are you a cellar rat? I used to be one myself still am I guess

KaD <enter forum “doucheroll” emoticon>

QOTD #1 – Haven't had a PS in quite a while but I do love'em!

QOTD #2 – Obama.

Gary… more blind tastings!
…even if you know the varietal going in. I feel like we all get more out of it.. including you!