Wilson Vineyards 2001 Petite Sirah
$9.99
(Label at right is from '99 vintage, 2001 is a bit different)

I really like this Petite Sirah. It's a good valued big red that fits the big meaty meals from the BBQ or the frying pan. Wilson Vineyards is a family operation form Clarksburg and they are producing fantastic wines of great value. Other highlights from them are the 2003 Merlot(tasting notes will soon follow), 2003 Petite Sirah, and their Late Harvest Chenin Blanc,Isabella.

Color: The color is typical of a Petite Sirah, inky purple, although the edges are turning brick red from a little oxidation. It's okay, it's okay, it just means that maybe it should be drunk sooner rather than later.

Nose: The nose on this Petite reminds me of an Aussie red. It has a strong fruit forward strawberry jam aroma with sweet rhubarb. Subtle notes of licorice and Crayola crayon also come into play to bring some more complexity. It does have some aromas of aging, a little acetaldehyde but not enough to disappoint.

Palate: The wine has good acidity making it cut through the oils of the sausage and fried potatoes I ate with it. Petite Sirah typically has a lot of tannin and this one does. The tannins are chewy and concentrate on the midpalate. The wine is balanced well on the palate with the acidity matching the tannin well so that it lingers on the back of your tastebuds for a long time.

Overall: Well, overall I really like this wine.... right now. At this moment in the wines life, everything seems to be melded together and working in the wines favor. But... I think the wine is aging too fast. The tannin is going to be strong for years and the acidity is not going to dissipate any time soon. So, that leaves the rest; the nose and the color. I think that after a couple more years the fruit forward aromas in this wine will fall away and the color will get lighter and lighter. But again, it is very drinkable now.

I give it a B