Similarities in taste?

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speaking in general terms, yes, petite sirah, syrah and zinfandel are on the heavier, bigger and bolder end of the flavor/body spectrum, while pinot noir tends to be on the lighter side. cabernet sauvignon tends to be on the bigger end, as well. but there are no absolutes, as there can be monstrously large pinot noirs and lighter elegant zins and cabs. and if you like syrah, you should try shiraz from australia, which is the same grape.

as for tannins, again speaking generally, yes, petite sirah tends to be a more tannic wine. tannins don't appear in the flavor profile per se. rather, they appear as a tactile sensation on the tongue. lighter tannins are sometimes said to give the wine a little "grip" in the mouth; heavier and sharper tannins build up on the tongue and can completely cut off the taste of a wine after a short time. when a wine has little or no tannin (sometimes because they have dissipated with age), the wine is often described as having a velvety or silky body.

as your wine journey continues, don't forget to retaste grape varietals down that road that you might not have cared for in the beginning. palates evolve and tastes change over time.

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