Collier Falls Vineyards – 2005 Petite Sirah
March 22, 2009
The Facts:
Collier Falls Vineyards is a Family owned property. The Collier family bought the vineyard in 1997. Their focus is on Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, Primitivo and Petite Sirah. Their portfolio includes a couple of dessert wines. The 2005 Hillside Estate Petite Sirah is 100% varietal. This wine was aged in a combination of French and American oak for 20 months; 33% of it was new. A mere 93 cases of this wine were produced and the suggested retail price is $36.
Gabe’s Take:
While my taste in wine is broad and varied, there are certain varietals that tend to get me excited just thinking about them. Petite Sirah is such a grape. A sure sign for my unabashed love of Petite Sirah is the fact that I never turn down the opportunity to taste one. If I’m at a friends house, a public tasting or in a Winery tasting room, if someone offers Petite Sirah, my response is always, “yes please.” So suffice it to say having loved their Zinfandel previously, I was excited to try the Collier Falls Petite Sirah.
Dark berry fruit in the form of black plum and blueberry fill the nose of this wine. Throughout the palate this offering is both full flavored and somewhat gentle for a Petite Sirah. It coats the senses with layers of flavors, but never overwhelms or batters your taste buds. I’m sure that’s due in part to the modest 13.9% alcohol. That also lends itself to the impeccable balance, and tremendous acidity this wine displays. As the wine opens up, there are a ton of earth notes that become more prominent in the lengthy finish. The final notes are a touch of tart fruit and a tingle of black pepper.
I’m once again duly impressed by a Collier Falls offering. I paired this wine with a meatloaf sandwich and was incredibly satisfied by that match. This Petite Sirah is going to work well with a number of foods, including a classic Italian Sunday dinner that features pasta in red sauce as well as other Southern Italian standards. While this wine is drinking incredibly right now, I wouldn’t hesitate to lay it down for a decade. That time in the bottle should increase the earthiness dramatically. However, if you don’t have the patience, I can’t blame you, this wine is tremendous, and tempting.
Please vote for Drink Dry Creek!
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