WCC PETITE SIRAH BLIND
Provence Restaurant, Albany, NY
1/23/2014


My local Albany tasting group gathered to tasted assorted Petite Sirah wines blind. I brought 3 of the 4 Turleys that made up Flight 2. Even though the 96 Hayne I brought won WOTN, I was disappointed in all 4 Turleys. I suspect now that they're not young, they need even more time.

Provence did an excellent job with the food. All the courses went well with these bruisers. The dinner began about 7:30 and ended around 10:30.


Flight 1: The Youngest Wines
Bistro Filet Drizzled with Roquefort Sauce.
  1. 2010 Stags' Leap Winery Petite Sirah - USA, California, Napa Valley
    [Contributed by the general manager of the restaurant, Jamie Beale. Opened at 6:45pm. No decant.] Gorgeous nose of intense black fruit and bacon. Extracted, young, tannic, ripe, harmonious and balanced. A terrific young wine. Group #2. One of my favorites. (94 points)
  2. 2009 Priest Ranch Petite Sirah Somerston - USA, California, Napa Valley
    [Open 24 hours. Not decanted.] Tight as a drum. Some black fruit in the nose. Tannic and structured. Needs a lot of time. Not fun to drink now, but should drink well in 10-20 years. Tied for Group #3. (92-? points)
  3. 2008 Neal Family Vineyards Petite Sirah Rutherford Dust - USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford
    [Double decanted at noon.] Sweet red and blue fruit in the nose. Intense black fruit on the palate. A huge tannic wine with massive fruit. Very much in the Turley style. Probably best in 20 years. Tied for Group #6. (94 points)
  4. 2009 Carver-Sutro Petite Sirah Palisades Vineyard - USA, California, Napa Valley
    [Double decanted around 1pm.] Huge smoky red fruit nose. Sweet, ripe red fruit in the mouth. Almost candy-like, but not cloying. Very appealing. Tied for Group #8. (93 points)


Flight 2: The Oldest Wines: All Turley
Magret of Mallard with Brandied Cherries.
  1. 1995 Turley Petite Syrah Aida Vineyard - USA, California, Napa Valley
    [Double decanted around 11am.] Big woody black fruit nose. Massive wine. Still too young? Needs another decade. Tied for Group #11. (92 points)
  2. 1995 Turley Petite Syrah Hayne Vineyard - USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena
    [Double decanted around 8am.] Huge alcoholic nose. High alcohol in the mouth. Long, appealing finish, but hot. Hard to see where this is going. Is it OTH or just at an awkward stage? A lot to like, but too much alcohol. No votes for WOTN. (92 points)
  3. 1996 Turley Petite Syrah Aida Vineyard - USA, California, Napa Valley
    [Double decanted around 11am.] Tarry and complex. Somewhat dirty nose, but the palate is quite appealing. Still very young. Group #10. (93 points)
  4. 1996 Turley Petite Syrah Hayne Vineyard - USA, California, Napa Valley, St. Helena
    [Double decanted around 11am.] Huge smoky nose of black fruit. Backward and tannic. A little tart. Still too young, but very good stuff under there. I say it needs 10 years, but many others think it is great now. 92-95 points. Group WOTN by a wide margin. (92 points)


Flight 3: The Middle-Aged Wines
Lamb Loin with Lingonberry Sauce.
  1. 2005 Rosenblum Cellars Petite Sirah Heritage Clones - USA, California, San Francisco Bay, Contra Costa County
    [Double decanted around 5:30pm.] Nasty, alcoholic nose. Gamey in the mouth. Not appealing to me, but some liked it. Tied for Group #8. (73 points)
  2. 2004 Concannon Vineyard Petite Sirah Limited Release - USA, California, Central Coast
    [Double decanted around 4pm.] Big, ripe smoky nose. Rich in the mouth with high alcohol, but balanced. Nice. Tied for Group #3. (93 points)
  3. 2004 Lambert Bridge Petite Sirah - USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley
    [Double decanted around 5pm.] Similar to the Concannon above, but a touch more alcohol. Still good. Tied Group #11. (92 points)
  4. 2004 Behrens & Hitchcock Petite Sirah - USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District
    [Double decanted around 8am?] Lots of sediment in my glass makes this hard to judge. Group #5.
  5. 2004 Warrabilla Durif Reserve - Australia, Victoria, North East, Rutherglen
    [Double decanted around 1pm.] Silky, rich, complex. A little hot, but still nice. Tied for Group #6. (92 points)
  6. 2003 Behrens & Hitchcock Petite Sirah - USA, California, Napa Valley, Spring Mountain District
    [Double decanted around 1pm.] Big, rich, blue fruit compote. Alcohol is high, but the wine is balanced. No votes for WOTN. (92 points)


Dessert Wine
Manchengo Soufflé


Conclusion

All in all, an interesting and enjoyable evening. I should have paced myself better, and spit more.

Tasting notes posted from CellarTracker.


WOTN Voting (3pts each for #1, 2pts for #2, 1pt for #3)

RankPtsWine
1181996 Turley Hayne
292010 Stags' Leap Winery
3-tie82009 Priest Ranch Somerston
3-tie82004 Concannon Limited Release
572004 Behrens & Hitchcock
6-tie52008 Neal Family Rutherford Dust
6-tie52004 Warrabilla Durif Reserve
8-tie42009 Carver-Sutro Palisades
8-tie42005 Rosenblum Cellars Heritage Clones
1031996 Turley Aida
11-tie11995 Turley Aida
11-tie12004 Lambert Bridge


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