Wine Blogging Wednesday #40: 2004 EOS Reserve Petite Sirah
I’m no Chandler Bing. And yet upon first sniffing, then tasting this 2004 EOS Reserve Petite Sirah from Paso Robles, I was culturally compelled to say:
Oh. My. Gawd!
The long-running sitcom, Friends, featured Matthew Perry as Chandler Bing. And strangely, now I do too. Photo source: toppics4u.com
Our friend Chandler also said:
I’m not really good at giving advice. Do you want a sarcastic comment?
Nevertheless, I’m going to try to reach beyond my first impressions of this wine to characterize, evangelize, dramatize - even advise about - it’s sensuous character. If I can keep from exaggerating a la Chandler Bing. But why the hell shouldn’t I exaggerate?
All right, look: if you absolutely have to tell the truth, at least wait until the timing’s right. And that’s what deathbeds are for.
Yeah, Chandler Bing said that, too. But I won’t wait nearly as long as my deathbed to spill all my guts, seeing as how WBW #40 is here today. And so’s the wine.
The See
In my defense, it was dark and he was a very pretty guy.
An unfiltered wine exhibiting a bold, dark violet color tapering to magenta; clear at the edges.
The Swirl
It bodes well for me that speed impresses you.
If you swirl this Petite Sirah just fast enough as you gaze into it under your nearest compact fluorescent bulb, you can almost see the gamut of the blue spectrum in its inky recesses.
The Sniff
Honey, I know you’re in pain right now, but I’m a little turned on.
Boysenberries, chocolate, and coffee. Ooh baby ooh! Must be a breakfast wine.
The Sip
Is there a mute button on this wine?
Loud, luscious raspberry, boysenberry, and blueberry flavors underlaid by muted baking spices and a subtle but rich alluvium. Tartness is crisp and tannin, while somewhat pronounced in this young wine, provides satisfying structural balance to its effusive fruity goodness. Remind you of any popular TV characters?
The Savor
That’s a relatively open weave and I can still see your nipular area.
Some wines are just nice. Others leave profound impressions, mental images that stay with you. This wine is total brain candy. And it stays on, just like Rachel’s loosely-woven bath towel.
The Summary
Wow, it’s - it’s like porno for clowns!
This wine is an overtly hedonistic juggernaut, a circus in the mouth! If you love Petite Sirah, you’ve got some Boogie Nights ahead.
Heat: 13.5%
Where purchased: Bevmo
Price: $19.99
Food pairing: A perfect match with country-style pork ribs slathered in my own moderately hot and tangy-sweet BBQ sauce.
Additional note: The back label on this 2004 EOS Reserve Petite Sirah states it to be the EOS flagship wine.
A virtual clink of the wineglass to Sonadora at Wannabe Wino for hosting this month’s Wine Blogging Wednesday, the 40th in a series originally conceived by Lenn Thompson at LENNDEVOURS.
December 12th, 2007 at 12:45 am
Seriously, Russ. I have to tell ya, Oh. My. Gawd. One of the funniest things I’ve read in a while, and yet, still a very informative wine review! I don’t know how you come up with this stuff, but please, keep it coming!
December 12th, 2007 at 3:44 am
This is one of the best reviews I’ve read in a while! Entertaining *and* informative. I will have to put this wine on my “to try list.”
December 12th, 2007 at 12:03 pm
Wow sounds good! I just discovered this wine blog Wednesday thing it has been going for 40 weeks wow surprised I missed up to now!
December 13th, 2007 at 8:01 am
Bravo Russ, bravo! ::Stands and claps:: I think you win for most creative and dramatic WBW post this month.
Thanks for making me laugh!
December 15th, 2007 at 8:07 am
I had a lot of fun writing this post. It just came naturally, too, seein’ as how I really did exclaim that venerable Chandlerism. And then a light bulb went on!
I won’t always write a WBW review, but two things made me want to do it this time: 1) I love Petite Sirah and I saw this as a way to keep myself patched into others’ interpretation of it - and there are nearly 60 others! So there’s plenty of good purply teeth-staining PS for me to seek out now. 2) Sonadora, you’ve supported me like nobody else has with your comments on this blog, and because this month is your first experience at hosting WBW, I knew I wanted to return the favor somehow. (Folks, you should check out Sonadora’s excellent compilation of reviews on her blog, Wannabe Wino.)
December 17th, 2007 at 11:05 pm
Loved your review, winehiker! I tasted this wine a few months ago and loved it as much as you did.
Cheers, Pamela