*** I received this wine as a sample. ***

Last year for Chanukkah, Hubby bought me a Moleskine Wine Journal.  Throughout 2012, every wine I tasted found its way into my little black book.  Obviously, this meant that as the year came to a close, I was completely out of journal space.  I never mentioned to Hubby how much I enjoyed using the journal or how much it help keep me organized when it came to blogging.  Yet, he must have noticed that every time I had a wine glass in one hand, I had my wine journal in the other because one of my Chanukkah presents this year was a brand new Moleskin Wine Journal!

I waited until January 1, 2013 to break that bad boy out, but it took a lot of self-restraint.  After a day full of finishing up research for our mid-January vacation and lounging around reading my book, I was ready to open a big, juicy red.

The 2010 Clarksburg Wine Company Petit Sirah (winery) is from Clarksburg, California.  It was a very deep, inky purple and had big, drippy legs that clung to the sides of my wine glass.  On the nose and in the mouth, there were boysenberries and blackberries mixed with just a hint of smoke and spice that was reminiscent of cobbler, but without the sweetness.  The wine had big tannins, a medium-to-full body, and high acidity.

Is this worth a glass after work? It’s worth more than one!  What are you waiting for? At an SRP of $26, this wine is on the higher end for “everyday” wine drinking, but it’s big and it’s beautiful and it’s worth the money.  Actually, if you see this wine, you should think about grabbing more than one bottle as it has a lot of aging potential.  Don’t get me wrong…it’s ready to drink now, but I would really love to see what it looks like in another 3-5 years because it hints at losing some of the fruity character and growing more complex with age.

I actually enjoyed this wine over two nights, and drank it both on its own and with food.  The first night, I paired it with Hubby’s homemade stuff peppers, which he made with seasoned ground lamb.  This was a really nice pairing, as the body and acidity of the wine went really nicely with the heartiness and fattiness of the lamb.

On the second night, I paired the wine with grilled jerk chicken and steamed broccoli.  This wasn’t a bad pairing, but it wasn’t a great one either, as the spiciness of the jerk seasoning just wasn’t the right combination with the acidity of the wine.  The mistake was mine in putting them together.  Thankfully, I still had enough for one more glass to enjoy with a little knitting and tv watching, which was perfect after working a long day and going for a 3-mile run.

The only warning I have about this wine is that it causes major lip and teeth stain, so just be prepared for a restroom break in between glasses.  Don’t let that scare you, though, as it’s easy to wipe off, but it is something to be cognizant of.  Otherwise, the Clarksburg Wine Company Petite Sirah is a delicious wine that has left me yearning for a glass weeks after tasting it for the first time.

Suggested Retail Price: $26
Received as a sample.
Overall: 4.5 Corks