Long-time readers are not surprised that I love big red wines.  Sure, my special occasion favorites tend to me more of the complex, medium-bodied Chateauneuf-de-Pape type instead of the fruit-forward, sink-myself-into type of a California Cabernet or Zinfandel, but the California Cabs and Zins are my everyday loves.  You just have to look at my tag cloud for proof.  That’s why I’m always surprised at myself for giving more love to Petite Sirah.  Maybe that should be my New Year’s resolution–to drink more P.S.?  Nothing makes me quite as happy as sipping on that full-bodied red and just getting lost in the way the wine feels and tastes, the way the flavors fill up my nose and mouth, the smoothness of the wine as it goes down, leaving a bit of tugging at my gums that begs me to take another sip…really, the way the wine comes alive as I drink it.  The problem is, Petite Sirah is hard to find in stores on the East Coast, and good Petite Sirah is even harder to find.

That’s why I was excited to find Petite Sirah in the local wine store while we were in Duck on vacation.  Hubby and I were there at the end of August, and it was unusually cold weather, so the idea of having a big red wine was perfect.  I’d hoped it would not only go well with dinner, but also be a great evening companion as I sat on the deck in my jeans and long-sleeved shirt, reading and listening to the sounds of the ocean below.

The 2010 Shannon Ridge High Elevation Petite Sirah (winery) is from Lake County, California and is made with 100% Petit Sirah grapes.  The wine had a deep, inky purple color.  On the nose, there was blueberry pie, blackberries, and hints of vanilla and cream.  In the mouth, there was blueberry pie, blackberries, and hints of vanilla, mocha, and pepper.  The wine had medium body, tannins, and acid.

Is this worth a glass after work? Sure…you won’t be drinking anything out of the ordinary, but you’ll have a decent, reliable glass of wine.  At $25, I admittedly had hoped for more from this wine.  Don’t get me wrong…it wasn’t a bad wine, but it didn’t have the chewiness or the complexity that I was looking for in a Petite Sirah.  That said, it went nicely with our cheeseburgers and grilled corn, and, as you can tell from the picture, I didn’t have any trouble drinking it.

Question of the Day:  Have you ever had a Petite Sirah?  Are you a fan?

Price: $25
Purchased at Tommy’s Gourmet Market and Wine Emporium
Overall: 3 Corks