Syrah, Shiraz, Petite Sirah: Seismo-Zombie Reviews

Foppiano Estate Bottled Russian River Valley Petite Sirah, 1994

BW: Extremely dry, good body, lingering finish. An elegant but not easy-going wine. Would benefit from a thoughtful pairing with food. B
SD: Very dry, tannic bit smooth. Leaves the back of the tongue dry. Heavy on grape stems and skins. Worthy for the tongue parching experience alone. B

Foppiano La Grande Petite (Napa Valley Petite Sirah), 1991 Reserve

BW: This is a beautiful, rich-looking wine, with flavor to match. Dry, nicely balanced, with pleasing hints of cherries and berries. Wonderful alone; even better with bread and brie. A-
SD: Beautiful dark rich color: may cause love at first sight. Nose is heavy with tannins and oak, promising an intense winetasting experience. French barrel is a little overpowering. Dry: I can almost feel the sawdust roll on the tongue. And yet the wine flows with the grain: despite its heavy character, it is remarkably smooth. Fruit and spices come out in the finish: blackberries and nutmeg. Repeated tastings bring out a peppery chocolate -- wonderful petite sirah character. B+

Christopher Creek Estate Bottled Russian River Valley Petite Sirah, 1989

BW: Smells purple and intoxicating. A straight forward, off-the-cuff petite sirah (not Seurat!). Not too complex, but very drinkable. B+
SD: Enticing color and bouquet. Rich, smooth and gentle. Laid back and friendly. We'll get along fine but won't fall in love. A little too simple, but you can go a long way towards forgiving that because it's so tasty. A refreshing change from the more popular varietals. B+

Christopher Creek Estate Bottled Sonoma County Petite Sirah, 1990

BW: B-
SD: A purple, inky blackness -- and that's how it smells. Very tight-lipped on first-tasting... am I not worthy to be privy to its secrets? Will it come out of its shell once it has a chance to relax and breath a bit? Too "Extra Mild" for my tastes. B-

Field Stone Staten Family Reserve Petite Sirah, Alexander Valley Estate Bottled, 1991

BW: Bouquet is AMAZING! Explodes in your nose. Flavor is rich, refined, classy. A-
SD: Crystal garnet. Rich fragrance which cries out, "Sirah! Sirah!": an exclamation of joy. Smooth and mature -- an anniversary wine. Not heavy, but crisp. The taste lingers seductively on the palate. A-

Foppiano Vineyards Sonoma County Petite Sirah, 1992

BW: The scent is underwhelming. Color is a standard cranberry/raspberry hue. The flavor is rather sharp and hollow. It's drinkable but ordinary. Next night it tasted better -- maybe I was just in a bad mood. B-
SD: Appearance light to medium, fruity. Smooth and dry; goes down easy despite its tannins. Definitely smoky, a backyard barbeque atmosphere, yet refined: whatever they're grilling, it is top class. Artichokes and hearts of palm. Not heavy, but more robust than the weak scent would lead you to believe. An excellent buy. B+

Hardys McLaren Vale (Australia) Shiraz, 1989

BW: Color is a nice red with a touch of brown and lots of floaty bits. This shiraz is old but not quite senile. It's still full of berry flavors, but falls flat in the back of your mouth. It would be welcome on a cold winter night -- very warm and easy to drink. C+
SD: Nice peppery nose that promises a spicy shiraz experience. Explodes in your mouth (a Frohlich wine): a burst if flavor a little too sour and rambunctious, with a dash of black pepper and capers. The acidic one-note quality suggests a wine a little bit past its peak, but still quite drinkable. C+

Pin d'Alep cepage pur Syrah (Vin de Pays d'Oc, France), 1994

BW: The nose is sharp and spicy, like peppery oak. Good dense color. This wine is tart and pleasing, very dry. Rather stark without food; try it with grilled meat. B
SD: Rich bouquet -- wafts of wine and cigar smoke. I instantly imagine myself in the poorly-ventilated basement meeting of some secret enophile society, surrounded by sodden old geezers comparing notes on the latest vintage. I take a sip. Hearty and peppery, this is what I want from a syrah! A little rough around the edges, it makes up for it with a robust character you can't help liking despite its rambunctiousness or the insensitive jokes of the strange old men gathered in this cellar. At $6 this is a most excellent buy!! B+

Topolos at Russian River Vineyads (Sonoma County, Old Vines, Unfined) Petite Sirah, 1993

SD: Rich and peppery. This is not a weak wine. This is the kind of wine I claim to like: hearty and spicy... and I do! Leaves the tongue tingling. B+
CF: A few months ago I bought this wine by accident when, in my own careful way, I was attempting to purchase a zinfandel. Since, I have purchased two more bottles because... it is a thoughtful wine. It is slightly sweet, but like cinammon, not apple or dessert; it is light, yet it has complexity; it is gentle, but each time I drink it I search for the right description of its tone, its flavor. Is it nutty, or woody? Is it red or purple? grey or blue? I am never sure. I will buy it again. Definite B++