THE STORY
I Brand & Family knows how to throw a great party. Their Fall Vertical and Release Party was one of the best yet. While I try to keep the main thing the main thing (and that would be to be sure to get notes on their new releases), we instead took great delight in the vertical tastings. Today I am sharing our side by side comparisons of various Petite Sirah vintages and the great experience we had at this party!
We had a packed Sunday on November 10, with 2 release parties in 2 different valleys. We decide not to use GPS to get to the I Brand & Family winery. And, the GPS in my head (my husband says there isn’t one) turned us an exit too soon off Highway 68. It was a lovely drive, but totally threw off our schedule. I clarified my intent to taste the new releases, but got totally distracted by the vertical tastings. Oops. The lovely BBQ lunch being served looked and smelled so delicious – alas, no time for that, either! Man, we won’t make that mistake again.
ABOUT I BRAND & FAMILY
I’ve written about I Brand & Family many times in Decanting Monterey. The most recent full post was here: I Brand Summer Releases: A Glimpse of the 2023 Vintage! The rest you can easily find by typing I Brand in the search bar on www.decantingmonterey.com.
THE WINES – PETITE SIRAH
Today I will talk about the Petite Sirah vertical tasting at this event. These are not in-depth notes, but rather, impressions of these wines in a quick serial tasting. Any errors are mine and mine alone!
2010-2016 PETITE SIRAH WINES
Greeted by Laurel, we were able to taste these 2010-2016 vintages of P’tit Paysan/Paysan Petit Sirah. Now, what fun is that? I believe the fruit for all of them came from Pierce Ranch Vineyards in the San Antonio AVA of Monterey County.
2010 P’tit Paysan Petite Sirah “Le P’tite P’tit”, Monterey County (#1475)
My Impressions: This was the best of the bunch and we missed getting the last available bottle by 30 seconds. Pepper on the nose, sweet and smooth, retaining its full depth of dark fruit flavors – this is how a Petite Sirah should taste! November 2024
2011 P’tit Paysan Petite Sirah, Monterey County (#1476)
My Impressions: In comparison to the 2010, the 2011 vintage came across lean, a touch vegetal and lacking that sweetness I associate with a Petite Sirah.November 2024
2012 Le P’tit Paysan Petite Sirah, Monterey County, 13.7% ABV, ~$21 (#476)
Winery Notes: Black plums, blackberry, crushed rocks, black olive. Full and rich on the palate, but neither hot nor oaky. Structured without being overbearing, rich dark fruit, long finish with hints of stem tannins.
My Review: Inky ruby in the glass. Dark plum, blueberry and earth on the nose. Soft blueberry and blackberry fruit is enveloped by a lingering licorice finish. October 2021/November 2024
2013 Le P’tit Paysan Petite Sirah, Monterey County, 13.7% ABV, $25 (#1477)
Winery Notes: “Picked at atypically low sugars for the variety. Fermented in small lots with some stem inclusion and some native yeasts. Aged on lees in less than 10% new oak.”
My Impressions: This was a fruitier Petite Sirah than the previous two vintages. November 2024
2014 P’tit Paysan Petite Sirah, Monterey AVA, Monterey County, 13.6% ABV, $42 (#788)
Wine Enthusiast – 89 points: “Dried herbs, elderberries, peppercorns and a strong streak of gamy meat show on the nose of this bottling, which is less dense and more nuanced in style than many other Petite Sirahs. The gamy element extends to the palate, giving complexity to the black fruits and sticky tannins. ” — Matt Kettmann June 2018
My Review: Inky purple in the glass. Red raspberry, plum and a touch of brown sugar on the nose. Cassis and dark berries on the palate. A slight tartness balances the jamminess of the fruit. This was our second favorite of the day. July 2023/November 2024
2015 Le P’tit Paysan Petite Sirah, Monterey County, $22 (#1478)
My Impressions: This vintage was very pleasant and a touch sweet. We liked this wine. 2024
2016 Le P’tit Paysan Petite Sirah, Monterey County, $23 (#1479)
My Impressions: I’m surprised that I don’t already have tasting notes for this wine. This vintage was light on the palate, dancing with a cherry finish. November 2024
THE TASTING ROOM
The I Brand & Family Tasting Room, located at 19 Carmel Valley Road in Carmel Valley Village. It is open Thursday – Monday, 11 am – 5 pm. Reservations are recommended – more information here.
© Decanting Monterey 2024
*FOLLOW ME ON Instagram, Facebook, and CELLAR TRACKER: Central Coast Sharon
Recent Comments