Wine: Petite sirah’s big taste
“Don’t be fooled by the name.”
“Don’t be fooled by the name,” said Sara Schneider in Sunset. Petite sirah is a diminutive grape, but the wine made from it is “anything but little.” Thanks to the relatively high ratio of skin and seeds, this underrated hybrid delivers bigger tannins and bolder flavors than the world’s trophy grapes, and it’s fared better in warm, dry California than it ever did in its native France.
2010 Concannon ‘Captain Joe’s’ Reserve ($36). “Plush tannins” and flavors of mulberry, star anise, and mocha characterize this standout from the winery that bottled America’s first petite sirah, back in 1961.
2010 Ancient Peaks($35). This petite sirah offers “intense black fruit” softened by “a whiff of violets.”
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
2011 Ridge Lytton Estate ($30).Ridge is known for zinfandels and cabernets, but its petite sirah is also top-flight, redolent of cherries, mint, and Asian spices.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Foreigners in Spain facing a 100% tax on homes as the country battles a housing crisis
Under the Radar The goal is to provide 'more housing, better regulation and greater aid,' said Spain's prime minister
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Crossword: January 22, 2025
The Week's daily crossword
By The Week Staff Published
-
Codeword: January 22, 2025
The Week's daily codeword puzzle
By The Week Staff Published