Oakton Lane Petite Sirah (2007)

This California Petite Sirah from the Paso Robles region arrived today in a wine club shipment. I had my meal of grilled pork loin, pototoes and a salad planned. . .however, as the night progressed, we decided it wasn’t a good night to cook. (We both worked hard this week and, hey, it’s Friday.) So, we have just ordered a pizza for our Friday-before-Labor Day weekend! This will be perfect!

Our sons have been home with us and we are having a quiet evening because Tommy is working and Tony went camping tonight.Tony leaves for his job in South Korea on September 14. Tommy starts back with his graduate-school courses on September 3.

The wine was a bit tight and closed when we first opened the wine, but after 15 minutes in the glass, it is now bursting with blackberries and pepper. The tannins are potent. We very much like this wine and it solidifies our appreciation for the petite sirah.

Sienna Cellars Petite Sirah (2006) Central Coast

Tom and I are having a glass of this Sienna Cellars Petite Sirah to close out our lovely Saturday night cocktail hour. This wine is special and we have been saving it awhile. In the glass it is inky purple. On the nose is raisins and spice. The taste is chocolate, berries and spice. What makes this wine really delicious to me is the strong tannins that are evident, especially on the finish.

My running partner and I ran 10 miles this morning. My legs are a bit tired but it feels good. After the run, I didn’t feel like grocery shopping so tonight we are having some leftovers — a pot of soup I made earlier in the week, a loaf of sourdough bread and some white cheddar cheese. Very simple, but it will be delicious. Tom rented a movie for us to watch. Ahhh, the comforts of home. . .

Sienna Cellars Petite Sirah (2006)

This Sienna Cellars Petite Sirah 2006 is excellent: tannic, chocolaty, and complex. Very tasty and drinkable. Air seemed to help it, or at least didn’t hurt it; the last sip was as pleasant as the first.

We have a second bottle of this (from a wine club). I think we’ll hoard it a while as a special treat.

Tunnel of Elms Cabernet & Parducci Petite Sirah

Melody and I had dinner last night at North Point Seafood & Steakhouse in Dexter, MI. Our son Tommy works there as a waiter.

Melody had a Tunnel of Elms Cabernet Sauvignon. (Tunnel of Elms appears to be made by Beringer.) It was quite good: tannic, rich, big fruit.

I had a Parducci Petite Sirah, which we’ve had before; it was also very good: tannic and chocolaty. This is a favorite of mine.

The food was very good (we both had prime rib), and of course it was great to see Tommy.

Bogle Petite Sirah (2005)

In the glass this Bogle Petite Sirah 2005 is purple and dark. On the nose is ripe cherries and young berries. On the palate are traces of butter, vanilla, oak, and prunes. There are fruit flavors of plum and prune with some black pepper; it is gentle yet jammy! This is medium bodied and round in the mouth, not acidic. The finish is pleasant, faintly bitter, and not particularly tannic.

Tom: This Bogle Petite Sirah 2005 is absolutely delicious. The taste is of coffee and chocolate and dark fruit. It’s fairly soft, not particularly tannic. It’s jammy but not fruit bomby. Luscious.

(We previously reviewed a Bogle Petite Sirah 2005 last May.)

Mirror Lake – Petite Sirah – Central Coast (2006)

Tom is in California and is conducting his own wine-tasting event as I write this (see his posts below). Meanwhile, I am holding down the fort at home, taking care of our dog, Trigger, and keeping the home fires burning for when Tom comes home. I have been so busy with work-night events that this is my first chance to relax and have a glass of wine since Tom has been gone. (Correction: Second time I have had a glass of wine; first time I have had the chance to blog about it.)

Tonight, I am finishing a bottle of the Mirror Lake Petite Sirah 2006 from California. I chose this wine because it was open! But, it will go well with the flank steak (wrapped in a pinwheel around spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, and feta cheese) that I am cooking for dinner. Although I have reviewed this wine at least twice before, I always taste a wine as though it is my first time. The color is a rich, deep black and has a blueberry and chocolate/coffee flavor. The nose is interesting; perhaps rosemary and a bit of licorice. This is a full-bodied, tasty red. The finish is smooth and satisfying.

Tom, I know the wine tasting will be fun and that you will be a fabulous teacher! Hurry home; I miss you!

Concannon Petite Sirah 2004

We held the 2007 Excellence in Learning Awards last night at the Innovations in Learning Conference. It was a lot of fun.

A lot of times at a busy social event you don’t even taste the wine you’re drinking (or the wines served are so bland that there’s not much to taste). But one of the wines served last night was a Concannon Petite Sirah 2004. Even in the midst of the hubbub, its excellent taste shined through. It was delicious: tannic with jammy, plummy fruit and a rich, full body. A great example of a wine with a lot of fruit taste that is also dry so that it’s definitely not a fruit bomb. A really nice wine. (It’s over $10 but it seems to be under $20 and worth it.)

Mirror Lake Central Coast Petite Sirah (2006)

This Mirror Lake Central Coast Petite Sirah 2006 from California is a wonderful, big red. We have reviewed this wine previously, but I am tasting again tonight. Tom chose this wine to accompany our dinner of beef stew. I made the stew over the weekend with a delicious cut of beef that I simmered for hours and then added vegetables.

The color is very dark and dense. The taste is spicy and fruity with blueberries and rosemary. The tannins are velvety smooth. Delicious! Tom is finishing the bottle of Bolla Pinot Noir 2005 from last night. But it was only a swallow or two so it looks like he is moving on to the Petite Sirah. It is a warm and lovely night in Michigan.

Tom: The Mirror Lake Central Coast Petite Sirah 2006 is big and rich. Its tastes are tobacco and blackberries. Tannic, but with a fruit-forward lushness. Very, very nice.

Mirror Lake Central Coast Petite Sirah 2006

This Mirror Lake Petite Sirah 2006 from the Central Coast of California is a bold, attention-getter big red. The color is deep — nearly black, with flavors of coffee and blueberries and spice (pepper and a hint of rosemary). This is a full bodied, rich, and tasty red. The finish is velvety smooth and long. This will pair well with our meatloaf and mashed potato dinner. (I make a pretty good meatloaf, if I do say so myself.) We just returned from a very quick trip up north (Traverse City) to see my folks (Bill & Delight Fagan). We drove up on Saturday and back on Sunday. Once we got home, I unpacked, did laundry, and grocery shopped while Tom mowed and weeded the yard. Now we are relaxing with a fragrant dinner in the oven. Ahhhhhhh.

Tom: This Mirror Lake Petite Sirah 2006 is a very, very good wine. It comes across as a sort of fruit-forward cabernet. Chocolaty, blackberry, and tobaccoy tastes. Tannic but also fruity. Very nice. It has bold, big tastes and so stood up well to our meatloaf and mashed potatoes.

Hogue Shiraz 2005 & Ironstone Petit Syrah 2004

Tonight Tom and I went into town to the “Sights and Sounds of Chelsea.” Every Thursday evening in the summer our little city hosts a variety of musicians, jugglers,and other entertainers along the sidewalks. We just stroll down the sidewalks, taking in the sights and sounds! After awhile, we stopped into the Common Grill and sat at the bar, which is a fun place to be. Tom ordered the Hogue Shiraz and I had the Ironstone Petit Syrah. After a couple sips of each wine, Tom let me trade because I liked his Shiraz better than this particular Petit Syrah. The shiraz is from Washington state. A dry, medium-bodied quaff with pleasant spice and rasberries. I enjoyed it very much with my grilled ahi tuna salad. (Mmmmm, delicious!)