New Release: 2018 Petite Sirah ~Santa Barbara County

Try our New Release: 2018 Petite Sirah. Petite Sirah is a variety created from a cross of two southern Rhone varieties about 150 years ago.  In Europe it is called Duriff after the man who created it.  It is not widely found in Europe, but is grown a fair amount in California, where it is often used in small amounts to add color or backbone to another variety, including even Pinot Noir, of course without attribution.

It is a big and bold wine with some earthy notes like many Syrahs, one of its parents.  The color is frequently a dark purple, especially when young, which can be a clue to Petite Sirah in a blind tasting.

There are a fair number of Petite Sirahs on the market, but many of them are responsible for giving this variety a bad name, as they tend to be thin and do not live up to the variety’s potential.  On the other hand, well grown and well made Petite Sirahs can be blockbusters of colors, aromas and flavors, like this one.  This is not a wine for the faint of heart, nor is it a wine to initiate white wine drinkers into the pleasures of red wine, but for those who appreciate a truly big, bold red wine, this one should do the trick.

Enjoy.