Sean Thackrey’s (RIP) Orion from Rossi Vineyard was the greatest California Durif (mostly) ever made and bottled. In my opinion, of course…
Foppiano is a classic. I’ve not seen it in years. Kind alike Guenoc(sp).
I remember Guenoc PS very well. Orville Magoon who owned Guenoc (and his wife) were quite the characters. It’s Langtry Farms now, I think.
I drink very little PS these days. I opened a Ridge 2009 Dynamite Hill, the other day that was fine but didn’t excite me at all and the rest will be used for sauce for tonight’s dinner. One PS that I like a lot in the past but haven’t had in a number of years is made in a much lighter and brighter style by Ian Brand. Worth checking out if interested in that approach.
1992 was a stunning vintage for this wine.
Palisades Canyon is by far the best petite sirah I’ve had. Completely different style than I’ve had with others. They only do one pump over every other day during fermentation creating a much lighter final product than is typical for cab producers making petite sirah.
The ones I may buy when I see them…
Quixote
Older SLWC
Mending Wall
Carlisle
Biale
Some of the producers I recall as good value…Bogle, Foppiano, Rosenblum, Concannon, Inkblot, Earthquake, and J. Lohr Tower Road which was probably my favorite value play.
My dad drank a lot of the Concannon back in the 80s/90s.
Santa Cruz Mountains Vineyards, they call theirs Durif.
I have a Rockpile PS in my cellar. 2004 made by Clay Mauritson. Been waiting for an opportunity to open it.
Benchmark has a whole bunch of these!
I know Turley has been mentioned several times, but will flag that older Turley PS is pretty easy to find at auction. I’ve gotten a few 10+ yo from K&L and Spectrum and all winners so far.
I think when discussing this variety, you also need to discuss style. I really dig what Hardy and Ian are doing with their petites, but those are definitely outside the box in terms of leaner more acid driven petites rather than the rich anxious ones that’s so many people think of when they think of the variety.
I poured at an event for a number of years called PSI love you, an event highlighting that variety. I will say that it was quite scary at the end of the Tasting when the lights went on to look at people’s smiles ![]()
I’m partial towards Palisades Canyon. Others buy their fruit, but their oldest vines now go into their own production. It’s not a value play, but it is excellent. I got the Ridge Petit Sirah at a restaurant last week as our 5th bottle of the evening–I find at that point everyone’s palate is shot, so something big always wins over something elegant–everyone enjoyed it as their final drink of the evening.
Most of my PS - various Halcon vintages - went to auction earlier this year. However, a bottle of 2017 Once & Future Palisades V. PS remains in the cellar.
Does Chase in Napa still make one? I used to love their Zins.
Switchback Ridge still makes a great Petite! Like all; needs some long cellar time.
I’ll jump in and say Switchback Ridge, Turley Hayne PS is killer, had some good ones from Carlisle and Erna Schein also.
Drinking a nice 2010 Turley Hayne right now… pretty textbook goodness to me.
Seconding Vincent Arroyo! Super stuff!
Vincent Arroyo, Biale, Palisades Canyon and Ridge are the favorites in this house. Stags Leap for the value play…never great, but good for the price.
Friends of ours enjoy those made by Switchback Ridge and Lewis, but those are just…too much.