David Bruce Petite Sirah Santa Cruz Mountains 2006

Wine Tasting NotesStretching in a narrow band from Santa Barbara to the San Francisco Bay, the Central Coast region is characterized by the cooling influences of the Pacific Ocean. These grapes come from several vineyards in Paso Robles and southern Monterey. The resulting components display notable differences,some exuding bright,spice-tinged fruit while others are jammy, earthy and dense. The blend in many ways exceeds the sum of these parts,offering blackberry, blueberry and white pepper aromas, with a supple and balanced feel coming from our gentle handling of the fruit. Limiting the influence of new oak allows the fruit to shine through, making this wine versatile with foods, and ready to drink now.

Dark, ripe and plush, with herb, black cherry, pepper and meaty notes, plus a dash of vegetable, finishing with supple tannins. Best from 2000 through 2004.

Blackberry, blueberry and white pepper aromatics lead to bright spice-tinged fruit that is jammy, earthy and dense.

Also fairly-priced, the 1999 Petite Syrah Central Coast must include Grenache in the blend given its notes of kirsch intermixed with cassis. With loads of fruit, medium to full body, and a solidly delineated finish with sweet tannin, this excellent 1999 is the most precocious and flattering of this quartet.

Marked by well-focused, stewed plum and beefy cherry and wild berry fruit, it's notably smooth for a young Petite. Firms up on the finish, where the tannins show a grittier, earthier side. An excellent value. Drink now through 2008.

The grapes come from several vineyards in Paso Robles and southern Monterey; as a result, the wine displays both bright, spice-tinged fruit and jammy, earthy density. Lush with blackberry, blueberry and white pepper spice, Bruce's Central Coast bottling is not overly tannic. Unlike many Petite Syrahs that require years of patience, it can be drunk now.

Known for producing extraordinary Pinot Noirs, David Bruce Winery has also achieved the pinnacle of success with Petite Sirah. The 1997 Central Coast vintage is a rich style that offers highly extracted black fruits, woven into ripe jammy flavors and balanced with a subtle toasted oak character. The pure suppleness of this wine makes it great by itself, but if by chance you should get a craving for red meat, try it with a nice, big, juicy, medium-rare, charbroiled porterhouse steak.