I always appreciate it when somebody gives me a recommendation for a wine. Even if it isn’t always my “cup of tea,” I can’t help but be grateful for another wine enthusiast’s impulse to share.
Those of you who drop in fairly regularly (he says hoping somebody DOES drop in regularly – lol) will know that I had a Petite Sirah over the holidays that I searched for – and found – in a Total Wine near my home town. Because it’s a big store, I had to ask a very nice staff person for directions to the “Other Reds” section. She not only took me to the wine I was looking for but said, “Have you had the Oak Grove? If you haven’t, you should.” So I did!
Winemaker: Oak Grove
Wine: Petite Sirah Reserve
Varietal: Petite Sirah
Vintage: 2011
Appellation: California
Price: $8.99 at Total Wine
Notes: In the glass this Oak Grove selection was a very dark garnet It was so dark that it was nearly opaque. On the nose I got scents of dark fruit, oak, and lotion (I think lanolin is the appropriate term). Acidity was fine but maybe just a tad on the low side. Weight on the tongue was on the lighter side of medium as were the tannins. Alcohol was at 13%. Flavors were grounded by a core of black raspberry with light notes of oak and a sweet green herb – let’s call it stevia. The finish was very long with lingering black raspberry and violets. It was a fine glass of wine. Unfortunately, the perception of sweetness took away a little from my personal enjoyment of it. But that really isn’t too terrible. It just means I get to keep sampling Petite Sirahs in my search! Search for what? Oh, perhaps a Petite Sirah I can call my favorite (until the next vintage is released, anyway).