|
  |
|||||||||||||||||
|
Reviews for the 2006 Petite Rousse Paso Robles Syrah:
"A spicy, fragrant Syrah, the 2006 Clos Mimi Syrah Petite Rousse has copious amount of raspberries, bramble, licorice and beefy aromas leading into a medium bodied, fresh, complex wine. There’s nice lift and the acidity keeps everything light and enjoyable. This is a superb example of Central Coast Syrah that highlights the diversity of the region. Enjoy this over the next 5 to 7 years. (89 pts.)" Jeb Dunnuck "($25; 100% syrah) Deep ruby. Powerful, exotic scents of red and dark berry preserves, blood orange, underbrush, smoky herbs and black olive. Pungent, smoky raspberry and blackberry flavors stain the palate and supple tannins add support. The herbal and olive notes resonate on the long, smoky, deeply sweet finish. I suspect that this will be overly wild for some winos. (91 points)" Josh Raynolds "Wine of the Day" Robert Parker one of 205 "top value california wines" THE WORLD'S GREATEST WINE VALUES Top Value California Wines Consumers trying to find values in California perhaps have one of the more difficult paths to success than in any other wine region in the world. Most of the finest Cabernet Sauvignons, Chardonnays, and Pinot Noirs are well above the $25 break point for this article. In addition, the most prestigious areas, such as the Napa and Sonoma Valleys, as well as the Santa Cruz Mountains south of San Francisco, and even further south, Santa Barbara, fetch very high prices because of the high fashion and popularity of these areas. Since most wines are named after the grape varietal they are produced from, it's important to go outside of the very popular chocolate and vanilla flavors of Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay (throw Pinot Noir in there as well), and look for other varietals that are well-made. For white wine, there is not a lot out there, but Colombard, Chenin Blanc, Pinot Blanc, and of course, the workhorse white that still can be found at very attractive prices, Sauvignon Blanc, offer plenty of appeal for value-conscious consumers. For red wines, the very top level of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Pinot Noir are frightfully expensive, and you can even add Syrah and the best Zinfandels to that category. However, Zinfandels can still be found for $25 and under, as can some Syrahs and Rhône Ranger blends from south of San Francisco. This seems to be where the best values exist. It's very hard to produce high-quality Pinot Noir for under $25, although some can be found. Again, the best bargains will be Zinfandel, Syrah, occasionally Petite Sirah, and Rhône Ranger blends of these grapes. Another important component is to search out the best-made wines from viticultural areas that are not as much in demand and are considered somewhat backwater areas. Lodi, Paso Robles, Lake County in the north, and from the Central Coast, Livermore Valley, Santa Clara Valley, and Arroyo Seco often are the areas that produce good values. From the interior appellations, El Dorado, the Shenandoah Valley, Lodi, and Clarksburg are areas to seek out. Vintage Smarts Vintages differ in California as they do elsewhere in the world, but the extreme highs and lows that exist in most of Europe are rarely seen in California. For whites and rosés, 2007 and 2006 are the vintages of choice, and for red, just about anything produced since 2002, even in the under-$25 category, should still be attractive and appealing when made by conscientious producers. Robert Parker's Wine Advocate "A lovely interpretation of a Paso Robles-styled French Crozes-Hermitage, Clos Mimi's 2006 Petite Rousse Syrah exhibits intense raspberry, black cherry, and currant fruit interwoven with licorice and meaty/animal-like notes. With medium to full body, silky tannin, and a broad, savory mouthfeel, this provocative red should drink well for 3-5 years. ($25) 90 points" Robert M. Parker, Jr. "I am the Jabberwock" "Poetry resists the intelligence, almost successfully (so they say). Look no further than Lewis Carrol's "Jabberwocky." Doesn't really make a stitch of sense. Yet, the nonsense words are juxtaposed with just enough sense and just enough rhythm that a portion of your brain responds with a wild enthusiastic yes YES. Idea being, that there are things that lie outside our immediate points of reference, recognition and understanding and just when we think we knew it all, POW... It doesn't take a genius (I'm not) to recognize one (Tim Spear is). Fire up the Jacques Brel (preferably "La Valse a Mille Temps") maybe a Gauloise and drink up. Imagine a favorite singer (Syrah) adopting a whole new octave; not quite French, not quite American, this producer to watch spins a new riff. Expressive, lovely, thrilling and deep, it shows its elements like a stripper on parade, one bit of lingerie after another; black pepper, caramel, flowers, earth, black fruit, anise, yet it never weighs down or shows reductive elements (poop); in short, it is perfect $25 Syrah (this could pass for a perfect $40 Syrah). Terrific solo, yet brilliant with food, it's a big band thrill. It's a Syrah with a soundtrack (hit the YouTube---look up Brel "La Valse" or watch Gene Kelly in Summer Stock just to get the idea of what grace really means---and then have a glass of this to drive the point home). This sings." Francis Fecteau "The 2006 Petite Rousse is the best New world syrah out there considering the price point! And oh will the girls love the pink bottle!! I thought I liked the Bonny Doon Cigare Volant but it does not even come close to the Petite Rousse: complex, old-world with the Mistral blowing right out of the bottle, meaty, smokey, got loads of black pepper, rich ripe purple fruit---I could of sworn I was drinking a elegantly made Rhone! Killer find my friend! Now we have the most hedonistic, biodynamic syrahs from Paso Robles at a killer price!" Eric DeBonis
|
||||||||||||||||||
