I was enjoying a 1998 Turley Hayne Vineyard Petite Sirah last night, which was a spectacular wine with many great years ahead of it, and it got me to thinking about whether it is one of the top expressions of the grape. In Burgundy we have DRC, and in Bordeaux we have the First Growths. Who makes the world’s top petite sirah? Cost isn’t always indicative, but I can’t even think of a $100 bottle of petite sirah. I can think of examples where it is a small part of a blend, but I am talking about wines that are primarily PS. Who do you berserkers think makes the pinnacle of petite sirah?
Ridge when they were making York Creek in 70’s and 80’s. Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars too. Nowadays, Mike Officer.
Hard to say. I’ve never had a PS that has reached its peak.
Do they ever?
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A BIG +1…
Especially the 1971 version!
My favorite all time CA wine… 
TTT
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1974 Freemark Abbey PS has been at its peak for years now.
Have always loved Foppiano PS…especially the older Le Grande.
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Quixote makes a good one!
Yes they do!
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Carlisle!
We carry a Petite Sirah from the Bacio Divino/Janzen guys under the Vagabond label, a single vineyard source in Lake County. It doesn’t have a track record yet, but I’m holding some 2008 hoping to see what emerges behind the tannin, even for current drinking it’s a wonderful, but hard, PS. However, the best I’ve tasted was a 2007 Carlisle Palisades PS, shared with PS enthusiasts who also agreed it was the best they’ve had at that point.
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I’ve got 2 producers in my cellar, been that way for several years now, and they are my petite go-to wines. Carlisle and Switchback Ridge. Slamming wines.
Had the 2007 Stags Leap recently and it was just fantastic; I’ll be looking for more.
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Switchback is the first that came to mind for me…
Also like Ridge as my “value” go to petite sirah. Anyone here tried Swanson Vineyards Petite Sirah? I’ve had it once and it was wonderful but at $70 bucks, it’s a little pricey
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I haven’t tried either one but they are now on my short list.
One of the best CA PS vineyards, IMO, is now becoming CS. The Hayne Vineyard in Napa was utilized by Turley and Chase, and I’m sure others. Both made amazing PS from the vineyard and alas, no more.
Here are the producers in CT with Hayne fruit,
Turley 89.7% Bottles (9,027)
Jacob Franklin 7.8% Bottles (790)
Beringer Vineyards 1.0% Bottles (97)
Jacob Franklin Cellars 0.5% Bottles (54)
Chase 0.5% Bottles (50)
Elyse 0.3% Bottles (27)
Aratas 0.2% Bottles (19)
Switchback Ridge PS bottles are stellar, and pricey.
Doc, I paid 58 each for the 4 2011s I bought this past release. I love the Switchback petite, always have and so I’m ok with that price.
Thackrey.
Another great producer, we are trying like wild not to burn thru all those 05 Sirius bottles I bought on close out a few years back. Orion of course also stellar. 1990 we had earlier this year could have been WOTY.