Trader Joe's Grand Reserve Petite Sirah Oakville Napa Valley 2013

Petite Sirah is a small, black skinned and intensely flavored grape originally grown in the Rhone area of France but today more widely grown in California. Wines produced from this grape are dark, inky colored and often tannic with flavors of plum, black fruit and blue fruit. Petite Sirah is often blended with Zinfandel or Cabernet to give added strength.

Trader Joe's Grand Reserve Petite Syrah from the Oakville section of the Napa Valley is a good example of the intensely flavored Petite Syrah described above. The wine is round and full in the mouth with ample taste of blackberry and blueberry. The tannins were not overpowering but definitely present. The wine has an alcohol content of 13.7%. This was a nice change from the wines I have been drinking and I really enjoyed each sip. The wine is $12.99 at Trader Joe's.

SC Wine Joe rating = 89

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