Concannon Vineyard Conservancy Petite Sirah Livermore Valley

There's nothing petite about this excellent wine.

Received sample for review. Suggested retail price of $15 SRP, but should be available widely for around $10.

From the bottle:

Our conservancy wines help protect California vineyard land from urban development. Growers of these wines have placed their land into a trust that preserves against development forever.

Roots. Rocks. Intrigue. My Great-Grandfather, James Concannon began handcrafting outstanding wines in 1883. Concannon is America's first winery to bottle Petite Sirah and has been doing so for over 40 years. By placing vineyards into conservancy it ensures wines will continue to be crafted for future generations. We believe preservation of vineyard and agricultural lands protects our quality of life.

Our Conservancy Petite Sirah is the essence of Concannon, displaying fantastic depth and character. It is full bodied, rich with cherry flavors and has a hint of toasty oak for a smooth silky finish. Pairs as well with barbequed chicken as your favorite lamb recipe.

Enjoy a glass and be part of the legacy!

13.5% Alcohol

Petite Sirah has a bit of an up and down history. You don't hear much about it today, but it does seem to be on the comeback. It's glory years were probably during Prohibition believe it or not! It was in demand because of a rule allowing families to make up to 200 gallons of homemade wine per year and the Petite Sirah grape was one of the few to be able to survive train trips across the country. The Wine Economist has an excellent article here for more info on the history of this grape.

So what did we think of this wine? In a word, the 2008 Concannon Vineyard Conservancy Petite Sirah was excellent. Sweet blackberries and a little chocolate and pepper on the nose. The palate showed blackberries and even a bit of mocha. There's some oak coming through but not overpowering at all. Nice tannins and a dry finish. verall, just a really nicely balanced, full-bodied, fruity and very drinkable wine. We quite enjoyed it quite a bit and recommend you check it out! Definitely a wine that will find a spot in the next update of the Top 10 list.

See a listing of local retailers selling this wine here.

Taste Rating: 8 Cost Rating: 8