The International Wine Review

The International Wine Review June 2008 Tablas Creek Vineyard 2006Report Grenache #12 California Blanc Petite Paso Sirah Robles II sSyrah 88 Update: points California and “This Grenache Blanc has a palethe lemon Northwest color withsSelections a nose frofom pear, California wet stones, and Washington and a touch State of lemon zest. Clean, crisp and dry on the palate, with light delicate fruit, it reveals impressions of orange blossom and lemon oil and isCalifornia quite refreshing on the finish.”In This Issue Petite Sirah II I. California Petite Sirah II I. Introduction ...... Cover Introduction Top-Rated Producers ...... 3 Tablas Creek Vineyard 2006 Roussanne Paso Robles 90 The Grapepoints ...... 3 The International Wine Review published its ﬁrst report on Petite Sirah in the Vineyard ...... 4 California Petite Sirah in September 2005. Much of what we Winemaking ...... 4 “The 2006 Roussanne has a lovelyhad yellowto say then about gold Petite color Sirah remains with true today.aromas Petite of ripe pear, honeydew melon, Durif in Australia ...... 4 Sirah is an underrated varietal offering tremendous quality Serving and Pairing Petite Sirah with Food ...... 5 and some floral notes. The palateand is value.soft, The rich, perception and that itcreamy is a minor red on grape the has attack with sweet ripe, honeyed allowed Petite Sirah to remain one of the best buys in the US Petite Sirah in the Marketplace ...... 5 citrus, waxy fruit, good acidity andmarketplace. a crisp, dry finish.” Tasting Notes and Ratings ...... 6 References ...... 10 Petite Sirah has maintained a loyal cult following over the years Petite Sirah by Price and Rating ...... 11 owing to the enthusiastic support of its pioneer producers such as Lou Foppiano, Jim Concannon, David Bruce, Larry Turley, II. Syrah Update: California and the Northwest Carl Doumani and others. The grape is also ﬁercely beloved Introduction ...... points14 Tablas Creek Vineyard 2006by many Esprit winemakers who de belong Beaucastel to an advocacy organization Blanc New Paso Tasting Notes Robles and Ratings...... 94 15 that promotes Petite Sirah known as “PS I Love You.” http:// Syrah by Price and Rating ...... 22 “This Rhône-like white blend ofwww.psiloveyou.org. 65% Roussanne 30% Grenache Blanc and 5% Picpoul is a III. Selections from California and Washington State superb wine. Yellow-gold in colorThere it are offer some 5,500aromas acres of of Petite spicy Sirah planted lemon in with Intro, Newa honeysuckle Tasting Notes and Ratings nose ...... and24 California, tiny by comparison with Cabernet Sauvignon, boasts a very soft attack of delicatelyMerlot, and flavored other major grape white varieties. melon In 2005, the and Petite whiteto blackberry peach and intense fruit black withraspberry. mineral- Petite Sirah can Sirah harvest represented a mere 10% of total production of be a blockbuster wine with inky-black color, immense black like notes. Finishes crisp, dry andCabernet long.” Sauvignon. Despite the relatively small quantity fruit extract, and big chewy tannins. It can also be velvety of Petite Sirah produced in California today, there are more smooth and elegant, showing rich blue fruit and rounded than 345 producers and a growing following of enthusiastic tannins. The better examples often exude spicy notes of consumers. cracked black pepper.

In our tastings we discovered several prevailing styles of Petite Petite Sirah possesses many wonderful attributes. It has Tablas Creek Vineyard 2005Sirah. TheseCôtes styles are, ofde course, Tablas inﬂuenced by vinePaso age, crop Robles the ﬁnish of great 90 Syrah, points the fruit of ripe Zinfandel, and the levels, vineyard composition, site selection and wine making. complexity and balance of the best Cabernet Sauvignons. “The Côtes de Tablas is dark ruby-garnetThe spectrum ranges in from color fruit forward and and offers simple, to dense,aromas In the of tasting red notes cherries, that follow, we smoke try to highlight and these complex and exotic. Flavor descriptors range from blueberry styles. toasted oak. Easy drinking on the palate, it reveals ripe dark cherry fruit flavors with aContinued touch on page of 3 . herbs and a long pleasant finish.”

Tablas Creek Vineyard 2005 Syrah Paso Robles 88 points “Tablas Creek Winery is a leader among California’s Rhône Rangers, producing a wide variety of classic Rhône style wines. This attractive 2005 Syrah displays a deep ruby color and aromas of black cherry, roasted meet and herbs. Rustic and Northern Rhône in style, it offers a soft attack, red and black ripe fruits, and chewy tannins on the finish.”

Tablas Creek Vineyard 2005 Mourvèdre Paso Robles 92 points “The 2005 Mourvèdre exhibits a dark ruby color with aromas of spicy black fruit and tar. On the palate it is soft and lush and boasts pure concentrated plum flavors, with mineral-like notes and espresso. Beautifully balanced with firm round tannins on the finish. A gorgeous wine. Only 560 cases made.”

Tablas Creek Vineyard 2005 Esprit de Beaucastel Paso Robles 92 points “The Esprit de Beaucastel is a blend of 44% Mourvèdre 26% Grenache 25% Syrah 25%, and 5% Counoise. Dark ruby in color it has a slightly gamey spicy peppery nose with notes of sage and framboise. Mouth filling and spicy on the palate, it beautifully integrates fruit and oak and has firm round tannins.”