Francis Winery Sonoma County Old Vines Zinfandel, 2008 California The average age of the vines here are 80-100 years old, and actually is 89% Zin, and the rest a blend of Alicante Bouschet, Mourverdre, Carignane, Syrah and Petite Sirah. The wines were from California, Italy, France and New Zealand. Great deal at $10. SRP $40.

2005 De Lorimier Mosaic (USA, California, Sonoma County, Alexander Valley). 2007 Mazzocco Petite Sirah Pony Reserve (USA, California, Sonoma County, Dry Creek Valley). Wine reviews 2005 2006 2007 mazzocco petite sirah pony reserve de lorimier cabernet sauvignon crazy creek vineyard 2006 de lorimier malbec de lorimier mosaic

The vines are an assortment of varieties, co-planted in the vineyard here and there, and include mostly zinfandel but also carignane, petite sirah, and matarao (mourvedre). The balance of the blend consists of the aforementioned petite sirah and mataro, although they are not always in the final wine.) The lay of the land.

Getting time to clean out the old wine fridge. After two months of laying around, drinking coffee, tea, water and gatorade and laying off the good stuff I am beginning to feel the need for a long day of wine shopping, but the fridge is full and I will just have to do my part in making room for more. Here the grapes for Frascati are grown.

I love it when Shirley decides to experiment in the kitchen. It either means we end up going out to dinner or I am in for a special treat. don't always know where she gets her inspiration and last night I did not see any of her cookbooks on the counter, so that means she thought about this recipe while trimming her herb garden.

I don't often go with Shirley and Pam to the Saturday morning Central New York Regional Farmer's Market, but I made an exception today. was also out of bed early enough to tag along, which is unusual. did stop at one and tasted their 2007 Meritage. It seems to be that the wine always is a bit different, no, a lot different than what I remembered.

I've been holding out on the wine reviews until everything gets back to normal after my surgery. At present, my Cardiologist has OK'd 3-4 oz. of wine per day and, for me, that just don't cut it. do cheat a bit and I also skip some evenings. That is what happened with the first bottles I opened. little lighter bodied than what I'm used to in Zin.

Last March I posted a press release on a new collection of artisan wines in an innovative attractive new package. An international wine collection with six brands and ten items packaged in a new exciting premium 3L wine cask from the Octavin Home Wine Bar ™. The Chardonnay was not impressive. Definitely a good party wine.

With May and New York Riesling month coming to close soon, it is safe to say that I tasted more Riesling this month than any one year in my life. The hard part was deciding which ones I would post on the blog. After this article I will post once more on a NY Riesling and may list all those I have had. Both were opened with a BBQ chicken dinner.

This past Monday evening was a first for me on-line. Because of my work schedule and Shirley's extra long 'honey-do' list I never have the chance to do a tweet up on Twitter or follow a wine party on Facebook. You can add comments or photos or just sit back, relax, read what others are having and just sip away on your own wine.

This past weeks edition of the Syracuse New Times, a weekly alternative newspaper published in Syracuse, New York, contained an interesting article on Finger Lakes Riesling. Gary noted four wineries, one of which I vaguely remember from an article written by Evan Dawson for the New York Cork Report. Sipping later was delightful.

To continue Riesling month here in New York, I wanted to find something other than my favorites from the Finger Lakes region. Doing so seemed almost impossible. Other than ordering on line, it is very difficult to find New York wines other than Finger Lakes and Adirondack wineries in the local shops. Enough history.

Just finished watching the movie "Avatar" while sipping on my first Riesling of the summer. Finger Lakes Riesling of course. This month is Riesling month in New York and this will be the first of many I'll enjoy over the next 30 days. The 2008 Red Tail Ridge semi-dry Riesling was suggested by my sister-in-law. This is now one of her favorites.

Most notably, Zinfandel and Petite Sirah. Tonight I am enjoying a Petite Sirah from the Livermore Valley, a Concannon Convservancy 2007. John Concannon 4th Generation Vintner Winemaker Notes: The 2007 Petite Sirah, Conservancy has fantastic depth and character. few of the issues are for how long and where.

The 2004 vintage is 96% Zinfandel and 4% Petite Sirah. I'm leaving Chile(till later) and heading over to California to try a few more Zin's. I'm starting to surprise myself with what I am finding with Zinfandel and also a bit disappointed that I wasted so many years with such a limited selection or narrow palate. Not that I am old??

This is the third of the Carmenere wines I tasted this month. As I stated in my previous two articles, Carmenere is one of the wines I've pushed aside in the past, but have placed on a list to re-examine in 2010. The first two left me with mixed feelings about the wine. did enjoy this with some Muenster and Dubliner cheese. It'll be fun!!!

It's been a few years since I tasted Carmenere. If I remember right, it was a take it or leave it, nothing special, too many other fine wines, don't shop for wine. My last review confirmed that feeling, but in a very serious attempt to expand a lazy palate I purchased a few different labels to compare. The first was disappointing.

Wish I had a nice Canadian wine tonight so I could toast the Canadian Olympic Hockey Team on their winning of the Gold medal. am not an avid hockey fan, but I do watch occasionally and tonight enjoyed one of the best ever games. Instead, I uncorked an Arboleda Carmenère 2006 from the Colchagua Valley of Chile. Bring on the steaks!!! Wine Acidity: 5.31

BTW, they are Zinfandel, Syrah, Pitite Sirah and Carmenere. This past week-end I started ordering the Petite Sirah at the Lounge and tonight I opened what is, as of now, the best. The Bogle Petite Sirah was the perfect match. At least I am no longer afraid of Petite Sirah. Bogle Winery 2007.

Somewhere among my 50 New Year's resolutions (99.9% failure rate) was to leave my wine comfort zone more often as I continue to expand my trapped palate. To do so, I will have to taste, I mean drink, more wines that I never tried or wines I just never liked. So, to start off the new year I opened one of my least favorite wines, Zinfandel.

I'll just say it: I'm not a fan of late harvest zinfandel. So this 2007 Late Harvest Dusi Ranch is the only wine from Ridge I couldn't really get into this year. On the bright side, Ridge has instituted a new membership log-in to streamline purchases online. Thank baby Jesus, too.

2004 Dynamite Hill Petite Sirah this wine a behemoth pimp in a blue fedora. 2005 Buchignani Ranch Zinfandel ** from 44 barrels of 96% zinfandel with 4% carignane from the same "small planting of old-vine zinfandel on the Buchignani Ranch on Dutcher Creek Road in the hills on the far western edge of the Alexander Valley appellation."

opened and decanted this 2005 Switchback Ridge Peterson Family Vinyard Cabernet Sauvignon * from winemaker Robert Foley for two hours before pouring the first glass. Varietals grown and produced include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petite Sirah." Tags: Cellar Selection USA Corrections 2005 Napa Valley 4 stars At 15.5%

There is no question that quality has been increasing in the past couple of years -- with the most recent wines garnering 93 points from all the major critics -- and indeed, the 1999 vintage produced a delicious Napa Valley Red, and 2001 produced an excellent Petit Sirah. History, like beauty, is in the mind of the beholder. Elegance.

A wow wine at age five, you would never know this was petite sirah, and it has only been in bottle since November 2005. Exceptional now, this is also stacked for aging

recently checked out some of their unique single varietal appellation wines (Carignan & Petite Sirah) and was so (surprisingly) impressed by their quality that I included them in a blog post  with some recommendations.  My favorites of the day were still the appellation Carignan and Petite Sirah.  And taste I did. 

The 2003 is drinking great, the 2004 is delicious and the just released 2005 is gorgeous.  And two wines in their appellation series that are of interest are the Carmel "old vine" Carignan & the Carmel Petit Sirah.  Those are: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot & Malbec. Also from Galil Mt.

Zinfandel is a very common varietal in Sonoma county and I tried 2 Zins at Sausal; the 2004 Family Zinfandel & the 2005 Private reserve Zin. Their 2004 cabernet which is actually a Bordeaux blend of 76% Cabernet, 18% merlot, 4% Petit Verdot & 2% cab franc. tried to get down a "bug juice" of sorts that was simply awful. Ahhhh.

then moved onto the 2005 Hayne Vineyard Zin & '05 reserve Zin. Following the Cab I had a Petit Sirah and finished with an old vine Zin PORT that I REALLY enjoyed. The Zin was blended with about 7-8% Petit Sirah & a touch (about 1%) of Cab. But it was ideology's 2005 Merlot that I preferred.

Lohr Estates Seven Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 This Cabernet Sauvignon from Paso Robles, California is made from 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petite Sirah, 5% Syrah, 4% Petit Verdot, 4% Merlot and 1% Malbec- quite an intense mix, but it works. Here are 7 of my most recent favorite inexpensive but good wines. alcohol.

An old vine field blend containing zinfandel, petit sirah, alicante boushet, carignane, trousseau, sangiovese, petit boushet, negrette, syrah, muscat noir, cinsault, and grenache. Another gem suggested by Eric Baugher. Medium ruby with a slight shine on it. Spicy nose mixed with stewed plum and herbs.sage note?

No, not the Petit Sirah/Zin blend - another people know is a favorite of mine. They had 3 wines at the tasting yesterday and one that stood out as unusual was their 2005 Gilad Reserve. was told that the blend was an UNUSUAL one - containing Petit Verdot, Shiraz & Petit Sirah. Worth a shot!

You will find both 2005 & 2006 vintages in stock. The 2005 is selling for $12.50 have found 2003 -2005 in stores ranging in price from about $ 13.50 In our present category you will find an atypical blend from Recanati - their Reserve Petite Sirah/Zinfandel blend. Buy it up, drink it and be proud. category.

And finally the Peay 2005 "La Bruma" Estate Syrah, which I was told came from a very cool Syrah site, was also not a fruit bomb like some of the other Syrah's I tried. The 2003 "1er Etage" Cab Franc was blended with 2% Petit Verdot and had very subtle green notes but was was nice as well. Great stuff. really enjoyed it.

The first is a Petit Sirah from California. Petit Sirah is a varietal I had initially understood to be a blending grape - one that could provide color, strength & structure to a blend (often with Zinfandel). PS I love you - The PS being for Petit Sirah). And two stood out, as they were priced to TRY.

Well ladies and gentlemen, the results are in. will be copying a list of wines & their scores from Israeli Wine Critic Daniel Rogov's "Wine & Food Forum".  I am waiting for my physical copy of the issue to arrive before I comment specifically.  More comments later.  Without further ado, the scores.