1992 SCMV Duriff and 1997 Robert Sinskey Reserve

[winoweenie]

Forgot to p[ost on these 2 from BRWs' and my Thursday prayer meeting at the club. The Duriff was from Jerry Meads stash that I bought from his estate. To say this bottle had been abused would be kind. Jerry was never one to pamper his wine. It spent its' entire life under the stairwell going up to the 2nd floor without air-conditioning. I originally had 4 or 5 of these and after openeing the 1st bottle 1 year after purchase I was sure they had gone to the ole vinegar barrel in the sky. I used these and the other bottles to fill the top of the diamonds. Making a long story longer I decided Wed nite to open this sucker. To say it was a surprise is like saying Oscar Peterson plated piano. Killer juice! I poured a nice glass then put the ole Private Preserve to it. When BRW arrived (he's been on a protracted diet so he's been limiting his drinking to tasting) I poured him the obligatory 1 oz. His eyes lit up, the glass slid toward the bottle and he got a full pour. Everyone at the bar were savoring the heady aroma so a communal pour was made. Consensus vote that it ranked near the top of ebberbodys' drinking experience. The Sinskey was a beauty too and the Merlot, Cab , and Cab Franc blend was definately at the TOIG. WW

[wondersofwine]

Nice to get a pleasant surprise like that with an older bottle. Durif is considered to be the grape often called Petite Sirah isn't it?

[winoweenie]

Or visa-versa WOW. Duriff suposedly is the Italian name for the grape known over here as Petite Syrah. Ken Burnap, being the curmudgeon he was decided to use this obscure label rather than PS. Have had many memorable bottlings of his using this grape. WW

[Innkeeper]

Durif is a French name and grape. It has limited use in the Rhone area where Prof Druiff developed as a cross between Syrah and Peloursin.

[winoweenie]

Sorry about the brain freeze IK. Was indeed a Rhone vatietal that wasn't ever officially recognized as a bonafide member of the official grapes of the Northern Rhone. Ken sourced his from vines planted in 1948 in the McDowell valley. WW