Southern Oregon grower/winemaker Joe Ginet was inspired and taught by French cousins who were nurserymen in the Savoie region. It’s rather fitting that his former dairy near Jacksonville does well with Petite Sirah – a Rhône variety developed near the Mediterranean city of Montpellier in the 1860s by French nurseryman François Durif. Deep tones of plum and blackberry come with hedonistic hints of caramel corn, vanilla, nutmeg and black pepper. Those same dark purple fruit notes strike a chord on the palate, joined by brooding mulberry and pomegranate. In this case, the tannins akin to raspberry tea come through in stoic fashion as juicy acidity is the focus of the finish. Thanks in part to its rather modest alcohol level, it should be an easy pairing with lamb, venison, pork tenderloin, hamburgers or pungent cheeses.
Rating: Outstanding!
Production: 100 cases
Alcohol: 13.7%
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