The Royal Tannin Bombs

The Royal Tannin Bomb’s Petite Sirah tasting is now up for your perusal.

The Contenders:
Ridge 2002 California Lytton Estate Petite Sirah Dry Creek Valley 14.7% alcohol, 84% Petite Sirah, 16% Zinfandel, $35
Christopher Creek 2006 Estate Bottled Reserve Petite Sirah Russian River Valley 14.9% alcohol, $35
Anderson’s Conn Valley Vineyards 2005 Black Label Green Valley Petite Sirah 15.5% alcohol, $125
Turley 2004 Napa Valley Hayne Vineyard Petite Sirah 15% alcohol, $95
Rosenblum Cellars 2005 Redwood Valley Rhodes Vineyard Petite Sirah 13.8% alcohol, $26
M.D. Phillips Earthquake 2004 Lodi Petite Sirah 15.5% alcohol, $32

Outcome:
We were very much in consistence that the Christopher Creek 2006 and the Turley Hayne 2004 were the best, if not quite spectacular.  Full-Throttle and Tally-Ho chose the CC, while Bad Man opted for the searing fruit of the Turley.  Well, Turley may not be able to make an adequate Zinfandel anymore, but this Petite Sirah (from the same vineyard, Hayne) nearly redeems them.

Note that the Anderson’s Conn Valley Vineyard Petite Sirah was from their extremely limited and exclusive Black Label series, available only at the winery, from which their Cabernet Sauvignon offerings are set between $1K and $5K per bottle.  These are incredible hand-made creations, made in tiny amounts – only one barrel of this Petite Sirah was crafted.  Thank god, as it sucked raw donkey testes.  It just goes to show the pretentiousness of setting a product on the market at a ridiculous price point – and having people who know no better buy them up like Ferraris.  Hopefully we save a few of you from the massive disappointment that invariably follows such a purchase from Anderson’s Conn Valley Vineyards.   Or, if you’re into burning money, go ahead and buy one just to see how badly wine can actually be made.

On night two, Tally-Ho reported that the leftovers were behaving quite yummily – at this writing I can’t recall which she tasted – in other words, I doubt there was any Turley sitting around for next day consumption.

Comment below, but first read all about it here.

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