The most recent Pacific Point Wine Tasting Club meeting was a continuation on our exploration of Petite Sirah (“Pets”), more affectionately know as “Round 2 of the Petite Sirah Smack-down” (In case you missed it, the results of the first P.S. Smackdown under “Related Articles” below).

It was warm evening so we decided to do an alfresco tasting.  It was the perfect day for this fantastic 100% Petite Sirah Rosé from Field Stone Winery…

My tasting notes follow:

Lovely pink-red color with cherry, plum. On the palate its full-bodied for a Rosé, and dry, with good acidity and bountiful cherry, raspberry, and mineral flavors. Medium finish. 100% Petite Rosé from old vine (100+ y.o) 13.5% alcohol. – 90pts

After some food, drink and lively conversation it was time to get to down to tasting.  We blind-tasted a diverse selection of  8 Pets.  Paso Robles lead the way with 3 wines, followed by 2 each from Sonoma and Lake County, and  1 from Lodi.  There were 10 tasters, a smaller – but more experienced group than the first P.S. Smackdown, when we had 18 tasters.

I snuck in a ringer for Round 2 – The winner from Round 1 – the 2010 Redtree Petite Sirah – to see how it would do…

The wines were blind-tasted in the following order (Click on the link for my detailed Cellar Tracker reviews and ratings):

• • 2009 Victor Hugo Petite Sirah – USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles – $22 Retail; (Media Sample)
  • 2009 Clayhouse Vineyard Petite Sirah Estate Block 87 Red Cedar Vineyard – USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles – (Media Sample)
  • 2010 Diamond Ridge Vineyards Petite Sirah – USA, California, North Coast, Red Hills Lake County – $28 Retail; (Media Sample)
  • 2007 Rosenblum Cellars Petite Sirah Kick Ranch – USA, California, Sonoma County – $35 Retail
  • 2010 Line 39 Petite Sirah – USA, California, North Coast, Lake County – Bottle was flawed – seemed to be undergoing fermentation; when I dug into this a bit, it seemed to be “yeast fermentation in bottled wine”.  The wine didn’t tasted bad, but there was definitely some yeasty effervescence going on – Wine not rated $10 Retail; (Media Sample)
  • 2009 Clayhouse Vineyard Petite Sirah Old Vines Red Cedar Vineyard – USA, California, Central Coast, Paso Robles – $25 Retail; (Media Sample)
  • 2010 Redtree Petite Sirah – USA, California, Sonoma County – $8 Retail (Media Sample)
    2009 Maggio Vineyards Petite Sirah Maggio Family Vineyards – USA, California, Central Valley, Lodi – Purchased for $8 from World Market

Yes, indeed the least expensive wine wins again!  No wonder Kermit Lynch said “Blind tastings are to wine what strip poker is to love”!

After we compiled, and announced the scores for the Petites, we tasted this Rhone blend, which one of our wine club member plucked from his cellar…

• 2001 Patrick & Christophe Bonnefond Côte-Rôtie – France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie
  Garnet color with slim meniscus, and earthy dark red fruits aromas. On the palate, it approaches medium-bodied is smooth, and well-balanced with good acidity, and muted earthy cherry, raspberry flavors. Short finish. (88 pts.)

It was a fabulous evening filled with wonderful friends, wine,  and food!

1. It was a very diverse group of Pets from throughout California, that reflected a variety of styles, though I think Petite too, is part of a trend we’re seeing toward lower alcohol, less jammy wines.  About a third of the wines were under 14% alcohol.
2. If Zinfandel is America’s grape, then Petite Sirah is California’s grape!
3. and last but not least…

Related articles

• Petite Sirah Smackdown! 12 Petite Sirahs – 1 Winner! (enofylzwineblog.com)