Concannon Petite Sirah 2005 – California

Concannon was one of the early California pioneers, and while it’s now owned by one of the big wine conglomerates, the company is still making nice wine, if this bottle is any indication. Petite Sirah isn’t very well known, but by now you probably know our general enjoyment of less-known variatels. Sometimes, Petite Sirah can be, as a winemaker once said to us, “wine that stains your teeth black.” Those monster wines have their place, but this Concannon is easy enough for everyday drinking. It has some pepper/spice on the nose, and tastes of boysenberry and pepper. Not to belittle it, but it’s sort of halfway between a Zinfandel and a Syrah, showing Zin’s fruitiness and Syrah’s spicyness. Francesca said it’s sort of “regal” or “proud,” with a character that she called almost old-fashioned. House. $14 (we got it for $12 on sale).