Winery/Vineyard: Lorimar Vineyards & Winery
Product/Varietal: 100% Petite Sirah
Vintage: 2017
AVA on Bottle: Temecula Valley
Rating: 88
How They Describe It
Showcasing inky color, this wine coats the palate with bold notes of ripe blueberries, wild blackberries, sugar plums, stewed figs with hints of star anise & black pepper. Reaching it’s zenith with silky, velvety tannin and a beautiful lift giving way to the fruit. Destined to be a notable vintage.
Chef pairing: Beef Wellington, bordelaise tomahawk, croquembouche
How I Describe It
Appearance
Petite Sirah is normally a deeply, darkly colored wine, and the Lorimar 2017 Petite Sirah is no exception. The wine is deep and inky with a boysenberry hue. Purple undertones are heavy, and there is very little color dilution on the rim, indicating high fruit concentration.
Nose
Fruit aromas principally include blueberry, black cherry, black plum, and bramble. There is an interesting oak leaf and pine needle component, reminiscent of hiking through a mountain trail. Incorporated through it all is a perfume of violets, spearmint, basil, and vanilla bean.
Palate
The Lorimar 2017 Petite Sirah spotlights ultra-concentrated dark fruit. Fresh blueberry and blackberry combine with raisin, dried plum, and boysenberry jam. Campfire wood and black tea integrate with brioche and sassafras. Savory bacon, nutmeg, black pepper, and dill make up the finish.
The 2017 Petite Sirah is dry. At 16.0% ABV, alcohol is high by any standard. However, it’s not uncommon for this varietal to have over 15% alcohol. The wine has medium acid and high tannins, giving it a full body with pronounced flavor intensity and a long finish.
Why is This Wine Special?
Lorimar Vineyards & Winery does a great job producing big, bold red wines. While that often comes easy in the Temecula Valley AVA’s warm climate, the fruit concentration hints that their winemaking team also like to leave grapes on the vine for as long as they can, to maximize ripeness. That is 100% what you experience with the Lorimar 2017 Petite Sirah.
While there is plenty of fruit to be had in this wine, one benefit from allowing grapes to ripen on the vine is the spice and herbal flavors which develop. The 2017 Petite Sirah shows these in spades.
In full disclosure, the bottle described here was donated by Lorimar Winery & Vineyards. Other than providing the wine itself, there was no exchange of anything which would have influenced or unfairly biased this review. Many thanks to Sara and Gabby for the guidance.
When & How I Would Drink It
The Lorimar 2017 Petite Sirah is concentrated, alcoholic, and savory — almost like an amaro or vermouth. For that reason, I’ll make the very unorthodox recommendation of slightly chilling this wine before serving. Red wines, particularly those with high tannins, are traditionally served just under 60º F. I would chill it another five to seven degrees. So, if storing the wine in a dark pantry, 45-50 minutes in the refrigerator should do.
When pairing with food, stick with savory spices. Wine Folly recommends beef stroganoff as an example. The peppery sauce would complement the spice and tea-like tannins well. Umami dishes like sautéed mushrooms or zucchini could also complement the wine’s big flavors.
How to Get It
Order Online: Email wineclub@lorimarwinery.com for details.
Bottle Price: $64 ($48 for wine club members)
Cases Produced: 93 cases
Have you tried the Lorimar 2017 Petite Sirah? How did the tasting notes compare with your experience? Leave a comment below.