Lucas & Lewellen Vineyards Petite Sirah 2005

The nose is earthy and brings to mind warm compost. There are tart fruit flavors with an overtone of sweet red peppers and the finish is smoky with notes of cranberries. I

March 2008

The 34 year old Petite Sirah vines, growing on their own roots in our cool Los Alamos vineyard, were harvested in a mild 2005, reaching full ripeness before the rains came. Fermented with labor intensive hand punching and barrel aged for 17 months, this wine’s rich blackberry and anise character is complemented by light, toasty oak elements. This Petite Sirah has a big, mouth feel and ripe, smooth tannins. This wine finishes with a silky, warm palate impression.

July 2009

I've always wondered what Franch compost smells like. Now I know. The nose is very vegetal with strong accents of dirt and compost mixed in with a bit of stinky French cheese. The mouthfeel is gripping, with relatively mild, but prominent tannins. The finish, however is probably the most intriguing part of this wine - a slightly sweet hint of caramel mixed in with a powerful taste of smokiness and tobacco - in particular, cigar wrappers. This is a good wine for those who enjoy some of these characteristics, but its not really my cup of tea...

This is a rich, dark, black cherry and currant Petite. The lush satin fruit up front and the smooth finish will have you checking the date on the bottle. It is a wine you can pair with the most exotic foods but is accessible to quaff with cheese and crackers. This 2005 Petite is a true masterpiece, complex and compelling, that will just get better with time.

August 2008

The nose is earthy and brings to mind warm compost. There are tart fruit flavors with an overtone of sweet red peppers and the finish is smoky with notes of cranberries. I