Carpe Vinum Friday Flights! Petite Syrah!
Hello Friends and Wine Lovers!
It’s time for a visit from one of my favorite wines: The Petite Syrah! Why my favorite? It’s because of the powerful heady fruit and the rigid, heavy tannin structure is this powerhouse of a wine. . .and it turns your teeth and tongue purple.
Petite Syrah, which has been the product of so many good wines for many years was finally confirmed, as recently as 1996, as the Durif grape from the French Rhone region. Botanists had confirmed this by examining the DNA structure of the grape in the same way that forensic scientists do on the shows I always get sucked into watching on Court TV, late at night.
They were able to prove, beyond a shadow of a doubt that Petite Syrah, AKA Durif, is the son of Peloursin (mother) and Syrah (father), married by French botanist Francois Durif. Syrah is, of course, the outspoken grape varietal superstar seen throughout the world. Peloursin was unavailable for comment, however she may make small appearances in blends from the Southern Rhone. Now, how they are able to prove the gender of all the grapevines in question is beyond me. But I’m no botanist.
The Petite Syrah has developed quite a cult following, although mostly concentrated around the growers in California. In the same way that Zinfandel has ZAP (Zinfandel Advocates & Producers), Petite Syrah has “P.S. I love you”, a whole society surrounding the grape, including a website and materials promoting the wines and the producers. More information can be found at: http://www.psiloveyou.org/
But for a more hands-on, purple-teeth, purple-tongue experience, I’ll have 7 of these legendary wines, made from this exquisite thick-skinned grape, here tomorrow! A few of the highlights include: Chateau La Paws, which is the secondary label for Rosenblum. Lolonis Oprheus, organically grown with ladybugs instead of pesticides. And the Petite Syrah from Dashe, the wine I liked so much I put together this tasting so I could feature it!
So Friday, April 8th, between 4:30 and 9:00 PM it’s:
P.S. I love you!
Viano 2000 Petite Syrah, Contra Costa County
Chateau La Paws 2002 Petite Syrah, Contra Costa County/Lodi
David Bruce 2003 Petite Syrah, Central Coast
Foppiano 2001 Petite Syrah, Russian River
Dashe 2002 Petite Syrah, Lodi
P.S. I Love You Two More!
Blockheadia Ringnosi 2001 Petite Syrah, Napa Valley
Lolonis 2001 Orpheus Petite Syrah, Redwood Valley **Organic**
For fun I almost included a regular Syrah in half-bottle size. . .get it “Petite” Syrah? But that wouldn’t be fair to Petite Syrah to have his outspoken father intervening. . .even in smaller-bottle form.
A stellar deal at $10 for the First 5, and $6 for the Extra 2 Premium Pours
Hope to see you here!
Seize the Wine!
Next Friday tasting is Awesome California Wines! Dude, Totally!
M