RKS 2024 Wine: McManis 2022 Petite Sirah: Berlin Wall of Blackberry: Bland? Predictable? Reliable? Uninspiring? Consumer Friendly? Cali Conundrum

It is not common to encounter a Petite Sirah as a single varietal wine. It produces tannic wines with a savoury and almost meaty character and dense blackberry fruit making it a useful blender but if the tannins are carefully managed it can make an age worthy and supple wine on its lonesome.

Aroma: Wow almost a Berlin Wall of blackberry!

Palate: Solid and full-bodied oozing with blackberry, smoked meat and just a bit of milk chocolate. The tannins are well managed here and almost minimal as well as the acids. A long finish. An example of that please everyone smooth California red inoffensive to no one.

Personality: I am a big brute without a plethora of muscle popping out of my shirt. I have been neutered.

Food Match: Roast lamb full of garlic which you have placed in the slits you have made in the meat.

Cellarbility: Drink until the end of 2026 as it will soften a bit more but it is already mighty supple.

Price: $23 CDN (Ontario).

RKS 2024 Wine Rating: 86/100.

(McManis Family Vineyards 2022 Petite Sirah, AVA Lodi, McManis Family Vineyards, Ripon California 13.5%, 750 mL).

Published by Robert K Stephen (CSW)

Robert K Stephen writes about food ,drink, travel, film, and lifestyle issues. He also has published serialized novels "Life at Megacorp", "Virus # 26, "Reggie the Egyptian Rescue Dog" and "The Penniless Pensioner" Robert was the first associate member of the Wine Writers’ Circle of Canada. He also holds a Mindfulness Certification from the University of Leiden and the University of Toronto. Be it Spanish cured meat, dried fruit, BBQ, or recycled bamboo place mats, Robert endeavours to escape the mundane, which is why he has established this publication. His motto is, "Have Story, Will Write."

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