Crane Lake 2003 Petite Sirah

ecliptik

It was described as a "two buck chuck" in the wine store I picked it up, although the actual price was $3.00. For that amount I can't really complain that much but from the description of it I was expecting a bit more. It's right around the same experience as Charles Shaw Syrah, so if you're a fan of that this isn't a huge risk. Otherwise I detect a lot of pepper in it with some slight dark dried fruits, and hints of cherry. Overall the flavour is spicy with notes of earthiness. It's more acidic than tannic and your mouth does dry some only to water once the taste is done. The wine is medium in body and the balance seems to favour acidity. It's not exactly flat but it doesn't have much potential beyond it's price. The aftertaste was actually quite unpleasent, almost like the taste of detergent. I ended up eating it with a pizza and that helped the wine greatly, accenting it's flavour with the cheese and tomato sauce to a bearable and enjoyable level with no aftertaste. Once odd thing was when the wine was almost done in the glass it left behind bubbles, something I haven't seen in wine before. I don't know what exactly that means but it was an interesting phenomenon.

Tasting Tags: acid bubbles cheap earth pepper pizza