Boeger Winery - 2005 Reserve Petite Sirah

El Dorado County California is where the next selection for the 12 Days of Petite Sirah originated. Boeger Winery has a 35 history. They have 55 acres under vine themselves and manage or a lease a considerable amount of additional acreage. All told they grow over 30 different varietals amongst their many vineyard parcels.

The Boeger Winery 2005 Reserve Petite Sirah spent 15 months aging in American oak from various sources. Less than 500 cases were produced and the suggested retail price is $30.

This reserve Petite Sirah opens with a  nose of berries, strong hints of licorice and a touch of eucalyptus underscoring both of those. From the very first sip this wine features dark, brooding fruit. Black currant comes to mind followed on the mid-palate by more licorice characteristics along with fleshy blackberry and vanilla bean notes. This wine is rich and full flavored but closer to medium-bodied, at least when compared to other Petite Sirah’s. As with a couple of the other selections I’be looked at this week this Petite will match a wide selection of food. Red sauce based dishes, grilled burgers and meatloaf are just a couple of options that come to mind.

The Boeger Petite Sirah drinks well immediately out of the bottle. Decanting allows it to open up a bit more but here’s an offering that is essentially ready to go when you pop the cork. This wine does have soft tannins and enough structure to suggest you can lay it down for short term aging. I’d expect it to drink well until about 2012.

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Please Stay Tuned: 12 Days of Petite Sirah Continues !!

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Judd’s Hill - 2004 Old Vine Petite Sirah

Judd’s Hill Winery in Napa is the next stop for the 12 Days of Petite Sirah. While the winery itself is located on the Silverado Trail in Napa, the fruit for this particular selection is from Lodi. Art Finklestein, who along with his wife Bunnie founded Judd’s Hill, had previously founded, built up and eventually sold Whitehall Lane Winery. So in a sense the history of Judd’s Hill goes back even further than the time this particular winery has been in existence. At this point it’s become a 2 generation family business with their Son Judd and his wife Holly also part of the team. The focus at Judd’s Hill is small lots of premium wines that are handpicked and crafted with a personal touch.

The 2004 Judd’s Hill Old Vine Petite Sirah was sourced from two specific vineyard sources. 88% of the wine is Petite Sirah from the Cranston Brothers Vineyard in Lodi. The balance is Syrah from Juliana Vineyard in the Pope Valley. The wine spent 20 months in medium toasted French oak. A mere 202 cases of this wine were produced and it’s suggested retail price is $30.

When I Poured the 2004 Judd’s Hill Petite Sirah into a glass the first thing that become apparent is that this wine is as black as night. Ripe, fleshy blackberry aromas abound in the nose with a little touch of vanilla apparent as well. At first blush the wine shows more than a little bit of tartness. Decanting for at least an hour is recommended.  Once it’s had a chance to breathe the Judd’s Hill Petite Sirah is rich and full bodied. Berry notes present up front followed by strong mocha characteristics towards the back of the mid-palate and on through the finish. That finish which is above average in length has hints of clove, star anise and a hint of chicory. Throughout the wine a slight touch of sweet fruit is persistent, though it’s not nearly as obvious as most of the characteristics which are best described as dark and brooding. A wine this rich and intense deserves an equally rich meal to go along with it. Braised Lamb Shanks would work as would dishes rich in wild, earthy mushrooms.

With only 202 cases, this is the kind of wine to not only enjoy as you drink it, but to cherish the opportunity to have had it. Once it really opened up, soft, gentle tannins were still present but no rough edges at all. This Petite Sirah is drinking well now and should also reward cellaring.

Check out PS I love You, the Advocacy Group dedicated to this great varietal.

Coming Up: 12 Days of Petite Sirah Continues, Over a dozen Petite’s to go.

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