HandCraft Petite Sirah - A Big Wine At A Small Price

82% Petite Sirah, 7% Petit Verdot, 5% Sangiovese, 3% Syrah and 3% Zinfandel from California.

SRP of $15 and available for as low as $10. Sample submitted for review.

From the bottle:

"Our HandCraft Petite Sirah is overflowing with dark blackberry and plum flavors. I've added a personal touch with a dash of Zinfandel, one of the first grape varieties embraced by early Italian farmers in California, that adds black pepper spice and jammy boysenberry notes. In this way, the wines are like me, with a California home and a touch of Italian heritage. Enjoy this full-bodied wine by itself or with tri-tip, burgers, macaroni and cheese or grilled pork chops.
-- Cheryl Indelicato, Proprietor

14.5% Alcohol"

Petite Sirah is a particular favorite here at The Reverse Wine Snob. For whatever reason this variety never seems to get its due and, as such, prices tend to stay relatively low. Don't let the low cost fool you however, as Petite Sirah often produces deliciously big wines of high quality creating a very nice value proposition for those of us on a wine budget. (For those unfamiliar with this grape, Petite Sirah is a different variety than Syrah, although Syrah is believed to be one of its parents. You can find some more info on its history here and here.)

The 2010 HandCraft Petite Sirah begins with abundant aromas of jammy fruit -- blueberry, blackberry and cherry -- plus a nice bit of black pepper. It's a nice aroma, but the main event is when tasting the wine. Here you'll find a wonderful velvety texture with lots of layers of sweet spice, black pepper and, of course, dark jammy fruit. This is a full-bodied wine with good acidity and some nice vanilla and oak notes from the 4-6 months 90% of the wine spent in French oak. We often recommend Petite Sirah for grilled meats and this wine is no exception. A big wine at a small price!

Want to explore more Petite Sirah? Here are five more of my favorites, all well under $20!

• The Crusher Grower's Selection Petite Sirah 2011 - Crushes It!
• Ravenswood Vintners Blend Petite Sirah 2010 - Simply Good
• Line 39 North Coast Petite Sirah 2010 - A Party Essential
• McManis Family Vineyards Petite Sirah 2010 - Smoky Blackberry and Toffee
• Concannon Vineyard Conservancy Petite Sirah Livermore Valley 2008 - My Favorite Petite Sirah

See a listing of local retailers selling this wine here.