Winemaker Notes
Vibrant notes of ripened Acai Berry, Sugarplums, Blueberry syrup, Chocolate raisins, Menthol, pepper spiced black tea all come together. Luscious and rich but with a beautiful tension. Soft and supple with round tannins. Sweet coffee mocha and roasted brown leather.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
Coming from the French Camp Vineyard in Paso Robles, the 2021 Petite Sirah French Camp Vineyard sports a deep purple hue as well as rocking aromatics of ripe blackberries, blueberries, violets, and smoked herbs. It's full-bodied, ripe, polished, and downright sexy on the palate, with silky tannins and no hard edges. This is one heck of a pleasure-bent Petite Sirah that readers will love.
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Tasting Panel
This debut Petite Sirah from optik hails from a remote growing region with the country's highest diurnal temperature shift, giving it the ability to produce rich, luscious, and spicy reds. Inky carmine in hue, it shows uplifted notes of dark plum and chocolate-covered violets. Creamy and plush, with a sensual mouthfeel and chewy tannins.
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Wine Enthusiast
A dark, creamy nose loaded with black cherry, cassis, caramel and vanilla cream introduces the nose to this rich expression. It's a mouth-coating, comforting style of Petite Sirah on the palate, where rich and saucy flavors of vanilla pudding, caramel and fruit syrup swirl into a satisfying sip.
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James Suckling
A well-rounded and textured petite sirah with dark berries, currants, dried leaves, stones and baking spices. Full-bodied and full-throttle palate, with fine yet firm tannins and an intense, compact development of dark fruit and a mix of herbs and spices. Firm finish at this stage.
With its deep color, firm tannins and bold flavors, there is nothing petite about Petite Sirah. The variety, originally known as Durif in the Rhône, took on its more popular moniker after being imported to California in the early 1880s. Quintessentially recognized today as a grape of the Golden State, Petite Sirah works well blended with Zinfandel and finds success as a single varietal wine in the state’s warmer districts. Somm Secret—Petite Sirah is not a smaller version of Syrah but it is an offspring of Syrah and the now nearly extinct French Alpine variety called Peloursin.
