Have you noticed that The name Petite Sirah is spelled two ways? Some wineries spell it Petite Sirah or Petite Syrah. Are they different?
Petite Sirah (Durif) is a black grape varietal originating from the Rhone region of France. It is a relative newcomer: created only in the 1880s by Dr. Durif. In creating Petite Sirah, Dr. Durif crossed 2 ancient Mediterranean varietals from his garden: Syrah (as the father plant) and Peloursin (as the mother plant).
Peloursin is a vigorous grapevine capable of producing high yields and excessive foliage if not kept in check with winter pruning and summer time leaf pulling. The varietal tends to be a mid-ripening grape whose main viticultural hazards are susceptibility to botrytis (bunch rot) and black rot. Peloursin is no longer commercially grown.
Petite Sirah is sometimes mistakenly spelled “Petite Syrah,” which has historically referred to a small berried clone of the Syrah grape by Rhône growers. In California, immigrant vine growers introduced Syrah in 1878 and used the phrase “Petite Syrah” to refer to the lower yields that the vines then were producing in California. Actual Petite Sirah (Durif) was then introduced in 1884.
Sight
Medium color depth with a garnet hue.
Smell
Moderate young-fruity aromas of dark fruit and spice.
Taste
Dry, medium-bodied with balanced acidity. Week tannins with rich mid-palate flavors along with a lingering long but soft finish.
abv: 14.1%
How much: $15.00
Region/Appellation: California, Eldorado County
2008 Peoples Wine Revolution Bea’s Knees Petite Sirah was mighty tasting and I rated it three glasses.
Life is too short to drink crappy wine. Expand your palate and keep trying.
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