Wines in the “fighting varietal” section of the wine store don’t get a lot of wine blog love. Nor do they get reviewed very much in the mainstream wine press leaving the inquiring consumer to consult Google for information. And I get a lot of incoming search traffic every time I review such a wine.
But I’m not reviewing this wine for the traffic but because it surprised me at how drinkable an industrial California $5 wine can be. Glen Ellen as a fighting varietal brand has been with us since the mid-1980’s producing a number of different wines available mostly in 1.5 Liter bottles. But it has been only recently that they have been relaunched as a sort of second label of Concannon Vineyards, the first producer of varietal labeled Petite Sirah. And judging by this effort, some of the winemaking practices for the variety have rubbed off.
Tasting notes:
Glen Ellen, Petite Sirah, “Proprietor’s Reserve” 2007 – ($10/1.5 Liter/sample) – Ruby-purple in color with aromas of blueberry and strawberry. Bright blueberry and plum flavors with a nice red fruit finish and no tannins. A fruit bomb a lot of people will like and a terrific value.
13.5% ABV
Synthetic cork closure
[rating:3.5/5]
Score: 85