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Subject: Petite Sirah Question

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Drew

Sammamish, WA

Wine Bottler
Posts:3105

05/14/2006 12:42 PM
Was reading WIML's tn's on Neal PS and really started thinking - are there any PS's that are great in the first 5 years? Every note I see on the Turley PS's, along with several others, say wait 10 years before opening, so I'm just stacking the Haynes I have. Notes all seem to say pre-10 years and you're drinking an over-the-top, teeth staining motor oil alternative. Am I just remembering the extreme notes, or is this typical?

JonesWineNo1 User is Offline

Sommelier
Posts:8568

05/14/2006 1:33 PM
Most of the super premium Petite Sirahs are designed to need time in the bottle but lots of the cheaper stuff (Bogle, Concannon (disclosure Concannon is a client of mine), even Turley Library etc.) drink fine from the get go but can age for some time if you want them to do so. Note if you are aging a Petite thinking that age will somehow transform the beast into a suave and silky wine well you are going to be disappointed after your wait. If you want a top line petite and you don't want to age it forever check out Jacob Franklin (not all of their wines are early maturing but some like the 2000s are drinking very well right now)

love_cab_chard User is Offline

Master of Wine
Posts:12385

05/14/2006 3:25 PM
I agree with Jones, but I did find the 03 Neal Napa Valley PS more approachable than most (including the 15-40). Still it was very, very young but more approachable than most PS that I've had to date. But absolutely, most of these need their time in the old cellar.

saut

Grape Fermenter
Posts:506

05/16/2006 5:25 AM
My favorite grape! Petite Syrah if well made can age almost forever. I found some beautiful Larkmead Petite Syrah 1975 at Butterfields that was drinking wonderfully at 30 years old, so they are worth the wait. But my old favorite, Stag's Leap Winery, makes a fairly assessible Petite Syrah that is tasty at 5 years of age. They seem to mature faster than they used to, 1999 and 2001 are already showing the great kirsch and boysenberry notes without overwhelming tannins, and the 2002 was very nice as well (although obviously younger). They make a great blend called Ne Cede Malis that is mostly Old Vine PS with a mixed bag of other grapes. Very nice upon release, I think the 2001 is current. The former owner, Carl Doumani, now owns Quixote, and their Petite Syrah under the Quixote and Panza labels are both approachable. Heavy weights like Carver Sutro and Turley might need 10- 15 years. I had the 2001 Library the other night and it was closed tight with a wall of tannins. Even that I would wait on.

pizinah

Barrel Filler
Posts:1313

05/16/2006 5:30 AM
Quote: Was reading WIML's tn's on Neal PS and really started thinking - are there any PS's that are great in the first 5 years? ... Notes all seem to say pre-10 years and you're drinking an over-the-top, teeth staining motor oil alternative. Am I just remembering the extreme notes, or is this typical? Had an '02 Switchback PS recently which, while it will probably be even better in 4-8 yrs, was already pretty amazing and accessible.

Drew

Sammamish, WA

Wine Bottler
Posts:3105

05/16/2006 3:37 PM
Thanks for the responses! My experience with PS is limited to a couple of bottles from Ridge's York Creek and Amphora.

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