This is classic Parducci Petite Sirah, a near-perfect example of the variety. Dry and robust, yet smooth, it has complex flavors of wild blackberries, blueberries, molasses, dark chocolate, bacon and peppery spices. With beautiful balance, it’s a great value.

Wine Enthusiast Rating: 90

[Issue: 11/01/09]

Last year I was shown four De Lisio wines, this year only the entry level 2007 Quarterback, a sign of the times in a microcosm. The wine is a blend of 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 26% Shiraz, and 17% Grenache aged for 15 months in seasoned French oak. Dark ruby in color, it delivers an enticing bouquet of floral notes, spice box, black cherry, and blueberry. Full-bodied, ripe, and sweetly-fruited on the palate, it manages to retain a sense of elegance. This lengthy blend has enough structure to evolve for 1-2 years but there is no reason to delay your gratification. It is also an excellent value.

Wine Advocate Rating: 90

[Issue: #186 / Dec 09]

Ripe fruit flavors veer toward the jammy, spicy side, with wonderful red fruit, cherry, raspberry and currant flavors. The intensity and persistence of the flavors are supported by the firmly tannic structure. Drink now through 2017. 1,000 cases made.

Wine Spectator Rating: 90

[Issue: Dec 15/08]

This is a big, potent, Incredible Hunk of a wine. It’s gigantic in wild, exotic blackberry, blueberry, mulberry, pomegranate, licorice, pepper and dark chocolate flavors, wrapped into firm tannins. Continues a near-perfect streak of ageworthy, dry Petite Sirahs from Girard.

Wine Enthusiast Rating: 93

[Issue: 11/01/09]

Unusual, distinctive, and a wonderful first release from this new brand, a member of the Niven (Baileyana) family of wines. A blend of Tempranillo, Mourvèdre and Grenache, it’s utterly dry, richly tannic and well-structured, with earthy flavors of cherries, blueberries, herbs, unsweetened cocoa, black pepper and other dusty spices. A brilliant and provocative wine from winemaker Christian Roguenant.

Wine Enthusiast Rating: 94

[Issue: 12/15/09]

Saturated medium ruby. Wild, reduced nose offers liqueur-like black fruits, licorice and meat. Superconcentrated, chewy and sweet, with syrah-like saline and game qualities to the intense dark fruit, violet and chocolate flavors. Very densely packed if a bit youthfully aggressive wine, finishing with serious tannic clout and persistent flavors of meat and raspberry liqueur. Is it possible these old vines are actually syrah?

Int'l Wine Cellar Rating: 93

[Issue: May / June 07]

Combines richness with delicacy, offering a firm, subtle mix of plum, red currant, cedar and spice. Gains depth and finesse, with hints of mocha, sage and dried berry. Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Drink now through 2014. 1,400 cases made.

Wine Spectator Rating: 92

[Issue: Dec 15/09]

A candidate for wine of the vintage, the 2007 Graham’s Vintage Port is complete in every way. Opaque purple-colored, it offers up an ethereal perfume of smoke, mineral, Asian spices, incense, an amalgam of ripe black fruits, and a hint of chocolate in the background. This leads to a dense, super-rich, plush, opulent wine that hides its structure under all the fruit. Vibrant, impeccably balanced, and exceptionally lengthy, it will easily age for another 25-30 years in the cellar and drink well through 2050, probably longer. It is a tour de force.

Wine Advocate Rating: 97

[Issue: #187 / Feb 2010]