Pessagno Syrah Perelli-Minetti Vineyards 2004

The Wine Spies Say:

DEAL ALERT! Today we are very pleased to bring you a very special value - on a very small quantity of wine. Today’s wine, a fantastic Syrah from winemaker Stephen Pessagno, pleases us on so many levels. With the holidays coming soon, this is a great wine to stock up on as it pairs with almost all holiday meals.

TOP SECRET EXCLUSIVE: Today we have a very special wine for our operatives. We were able to sleuth out another exclusive wine, this time from Pessagno Winery. This great Syrah is not available for sale anywhere but the winery’s tasting room - and here. read more...We are offering today’s wine at 35% off its average retail price with free shipping on Six bottles (use promo code SPYSHIP)

Mission Codename: Generations

Operative: Agent Red

Objective: Uncover the secrets of multi-generation winemaker Stephen Pessagno and multi-generation winegrower Bill Perelli-Minetti

Mission Status: Accomplished!

Current Winery: Pessagno Winery

Wine Subject: 2004 Syrah, Perelli-Minetti Vineyard

Winemakers: Stephen Pessagno

Backgrounder:

Stephen Pessagno has a reputation for creating great wines from his Monterey County estate-grown grapes - and from grapes grown by master growers in many different regions. One such grower is 94 year-old Bill Perelli-Minetti, a 5th generation grape grower that tends his own vineyards in Paso Robles, California. The combination was reputed to be magical and The Wine Spies dispatched Agent Red to sample the results of the combined love and talents that forged this wonderful Syrah.
Wine Spies Tasting Profile:

Look - Deep ruby color with a dark but clear center and glinting edges with think and widely space legs

Smell - Plum, raisin, butterrum candy and light white pepper

Feel - Smooth and lightweight with medium tannins

Taste - Just-ripe red plum, white pepper, with a tart-sweet cherry and berry flavor

Finish - Lingering cherry and subtle pepper. Dry all over the mouth, including the teeth with flavors that fall of slowly

Conclusion - I am always so pleased when I can spy a great wine that is priced below comparable wines, especially when that wine gives a little something extra as this one does. With great character in its smells, tastes and feel, this wine has wonderful balance and the structure to pair with a wide variety of foods. I enjoyed a glass with a grilled tritip sandwich and a Cesar salad. Delicious.

Wines that are produced by multi-general producers have never failed to please me. When wine runs in the veins and techniques are passed from father to son, the results are usually spectacular. I hesitate to call this a budget-minded wine, but, hey, it is a great value. What are you waiting for? Stock up now, my secret agents, and enjoy this great Syrah.

Mission Brief:

Top Secret business forces me to keep this briefing, brief.

I learned of Pessagno wines from my assets, field operatives that feed me intel on wineries. When I looked for Pessagno wines in local wine shops, I discovered that they were difficult to find. Where I did find Pessagno wines were in the finer restaurants, especially in California. This forced me to press the Wine Spies Platinum Amex into service at my favorite 4-star restaurant. Its a tough life and all that…

Well, one fine meal and a bottle of today’s Syrah later and I was convinced that they tales of greatness were all true. Magic is made when multi-generational experience is brought to bare on the craft of growing and making fine wines.

Just today I had the pleasure of meeting Stephen Pessagno and his dedicated staff at his winery. Stephen, fresh from a recent harvest and crush, was smoking turkey outside the winery when I arrived. The smell was immense and wonderful and the folks in the tasting room feared that the smell would interfere with our tasting. On the contrary, this wine came through just beautifully with its refined aromas and flavors.

This is not a big, sweet, fruit-bomb of a Syrah. Rather, this is a more elegant and light-hearted wine that shows off with its softness and great flavors.

I was able to secure the wineries remaining stock of this wine, so be sure to requisition some before Central Command runs out.    (hide)

November 2007