Some of my favorite Petite Syrahs are in the price point
of around $20, so you should have seen how ecstatic I was when I found this
Lodi Petite Sirach for under $10. Clear
dark garnet in color, this Petite Sirah comes from a winemaker who does a lot
with zinfandel. Chocolate and mocha
burst in the glass upon your nose. I
thought I was smelling some Ghirardelli dark chocolate and some chocolate
coffee blend. Upon tasting, it was lighter
than most Petite Syrahs I have had and seemed younger than a 2011. Lots of sweet cherry and currant
flavors. For those who want to try a different
grape and not spend a load of money, this would be a good adventure for
you. This wine didn’t stain my teeth
purple as the more stronger tannic Petite Syrahs have. I am rating this under 90 points, but for
$9.99, give it a try if you want to see what this grape is all about.
History: Petite
Sirah (or Durif, the grape’s original name) was created by botanist Francois
Durif in Montpellier, France around 1880. The grape is a cross between Syrah
and the even more rare: Peloursin. It was imported to America by Charles McIver
in the mid-1880s where it got it’s new name: Petite Sirah.
Petite Sirah is one of the
deepest, most opaque red wines with very high levels of anthocyanin (an
antioxidant). There is at least
one reason to try it!!!
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