Petite Sirah is a “hot” wine at the moment on the California wine scene. It’s gaining momentum as more wineries introduce Petite Sirah into their lineup of wines. Petite Sirah wines are big, inky colored wines, but come with a certain elegance to them. Most good Petite Sirah wines sell for upwards of $30. I recently tasted a wonderful Petite Sirah at the Madrone Vineyard Estate winery in the Sonoma Valley that sells for $60. My quest is to find a Petite Sirah nearly as good but in the GoodCheapVino price range. Do have any recommendations? My first Petite Sirah to try in this endeavor is the Bogle Petite Sirah 2013
Bogle Petite Sirah at TJ’s for $7.99
Bogle Petite Sirah 2013 – Trader Joe’s $7.99
Bogle is one of the biggest-production wineries in California and mostly known for its affordable and popular Old Vine Zinfandel. While one can find the Old Vine Zin in many markets, the Bogle Petite Sirah is produced in smaller amounts and, therefore, much harder to find in stores. So far Trader Joe’s is the only place I have found the Petite Sirah. The Bogle Petite Sirah is labeled “California,” which means that the Petite Sirah grapes came from less than 85% of one particular wine appellation. The Bogle spec sheet tells us that the grapes are from Lodi and Clarksburg. Bogle Petite Sirah 2013 has a nice inky color and is full of black fruit flavors. It is a smooth wine, but not elegant like many high-end Petite Sirah wines. The aftertaste is decent, and overall it is a nicely-balanced wine. No flaws are in this wine to stop you from enjoying the Petite Sirah grape. I rate it a 87 Points. At this price, the wine is very much worthy of a try. Our favorite dish with any Petite Sirah wine is Baby Back Ribs with a spice rub and slow cooked on the grill.
Lake Chalice Sauvignon Blanc
Lake Chalice “The Nest” Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2015 – K&L Wines $10.99
I purchased this wine at the new K&L Wine shop on Harrison in San Francisco. I chose this wine to bring to a family dinner gathering. One family member is a huge fan of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. Her favorite is Cloudy Bay, a popular New Zealand S.B., usually priced in the mid twenties. The Lake Chalice is a typical New Zealand style Sauvignon Blanc with gooseberry, grapefruit and a refreshing character. The price point beats almost any New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs of comparable taste. 88 Points. Also at Wine.com for $14.99. So did the Lake Chalice measure up to our family’s judgement? Yes, was the definitive answer! More about the Sauvignon Blanc grape and food matches.
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