2016 Hearst Ranch Winery “The Pergola” Petite Sirah
Tasting Notes
Our estate Petite Sirah continues to amaze us with its well-mannered nature. This 2016 vintage is beautifully soft and approachable. The color is dense and brilliant, and the nose offers notes of blueberries and lilac. On the palate, you will find this wine supple and rich with support from a subtle, yet regal tannin structure. Hints of medium plus toasted oak add depth and the firm acidity frames everything in for a well-composed delivery.
Specifications
Vintage: 2016
Blend: 100% Petite Sirah
Appellation: Paso Robles
Barrel Regime: 10% new American oak, 10% new French oak & 80% neutral oak
Alcohol: 14.1%
Total Acidity: .53 g/100 mL
pH: 3.73
Production: 913 cases
Included in the Box
3-bottles:
3x 2016 Hearst Ranch Winery “The Pergola” Petite Sirah
Case:
12x 2016 Hearst Ranch Winery “The Pergola” Petite Sirah
Winery: Hearst Ranch Winery
Owners: Steve Hearst and Jim Saunders
Location: San Simeon, CA
Steve Hearst and Jim Saunders began their business and personal relationship after Jim purchased a Hearst Ranch tour at a Hearst Cancer Resource Center fundraiser. As the saying goes, “a meeting of the minds” developed into this benevolent project—Hearst Ranch Winery.
Independently, Steve Hearst and Jim Saunders are accomplished businessmen that have the talent, imagination and integrity to create great things. Collectively, their shared vision on sustainable agriculture, resource protection and historical preservation brought Hearst Ranch Winery to fruition. These men have fostered a friendship and an enduring devotion to their community.
The hand-crafted offerings of Hearst Ranch Winery have been brought to life by the collaboration of sound agricultural practices, impeccable winemaking and the philanthropic involvement of Steve Hearst and Jim Saunders. The fruit from California’s Central Coast vineyards is among the finest in the world. Blend in the talent of our winemaker and you get Hearst Ranch Wines, exhibiting the excellence that is a testimony to the “Legacy of Quality™”—synonymous with the Hearst tradition.
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Hearst Ranch Winery “The Pergola” Petite Sirah
3 bottles for $XX.XX $XX/bottle + $2.67/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $XXX.XX $XX.XX/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
You know what’s nice? Getting a surprise email 13,000 miles into a four-month work travel schedule that still has roughly 6,000 more miles to go. Heading home for a bit of breather was made even more pleasant with the surprise from Ariana that there would be a package waiting for me to be picked up! It’s as though Casemates knew I was due for a bit of R&R between Friday and Tuesday…
Anyway, let’s get to the Vino: Hearst Ranch Winery “The Pergola” Petite Sirah, 2016
I love a red wine, and even more so the justification to head to the grocery store with the excuse of finding something to throw on the grill. Tonight we’re going with steak chimichurri and various vegetable kebabs over some hardwood charcoal.
On first pour this is a lovely, deeply dark purple wine. I’m not looking into a black hole, but it’s darn close. Bouquet is decidedly berry: black and blue, with an underlying aroma of just a hint of pepper. A first sip provides exactly what I expected: enough tannin structure that I could probably erect its namesake Pergola from just a few drops out of the bottle. Knowing that this wine will likely take some time and effort to relax, I decided to allow the wine to decant in the bottle for an hour or so while I prepped and cooked dinner.
With time and with food, this wine is an approachable, enjoyable example of the Petite Sirah variety. Practicing patience that will allow it to adequately breathe and settle is going to be paramount, and so I’m holding back a bit on description and judgement to enjoy the second half of the bottle tomorrow (Saturday) evening with some wood-fired pizza out of the backyard. Still, I thought the community would be interested in first impressions, so here we are. My bet is that this is an option to hold for 4-5 years before you risk any depreciation of quality.
My apologies for the initial short rattage, but I’ll be back here to see how this plays out, and I hope you will be too. For now though, I need to find some rest, even if it’s not in the opulent bedrooms of Xanadu.
Chiming back in for round two: after just about 24 hours uncorked, this wine is ready to be enjoyed: Blackberry, Pepper, Oak. Still a wonderful purple color, and just a hint sweeter than other PS bottles I’ve enjoyed, but not in a way that’s off-putting at all, it’s very pleasant. Giving it the extra time results in a wine that is open, has a great mouth feel, and left me wishing that I’d saved a bit more for Saturday evening rather than sampling as much as I did on Friday night. If you’re on the fence about purchasing, the case price makes this a great value in the quality for price matrix, but I’m still working on inventory reduction so the moratorium remains…
Thanks WD, Hearst and Ariana for the opportunity to rat this bottle!
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations)
2016 Hearst Ranch Winery “The Pergola” Petite Sirah - $50 = 20.82%
I was also a lucky labratter! I’m not terribly experienced with petite sirah, as I found my first few forays to be a bit too tannic and heavy for my taste. So although I don’t have much to compare this wine to, I’ll try to share some thoughts as best as I can!
I got the wine on Thursday, and seeing it was a fairly young PS I decided to pop it open that night so I could get some second day thoughts down for you. Full disclosure - I attended a mezcal tasting before I got home so my palette was a little shot. But on PnP I was really surprised how mild the wine was! Not a PS that turns your mouth and teeth purple after just one glass. It was a bit closed, but I picked up a little toasty oak on the nose, and got cocoa, pepper, and dark fruit from my small taste. The tannins seem pretty mild and well incorporated to me, honestly very different than what I was expecting. I’m pleasantly surprised! Didn’t pick up any alcohol, its pretty smooth and tasty for how young it is. Put it away for day two.
Really liking the wine today. Picking up blackberry / blueberry on the nose, with some pomegranate thrown in. Those same flavors are coming through, with nice smooth tannins you can feel on the sides of your tongue. Long finish, with briney notes. I’ve been drinking a lot of Baja wines lately, and there is a distinct saltwater / brine flavor that I really enjoy, and am picking up distinctly here.
I’m not eating meat right now, but I would definitely pair this with tomato sauces or fatty meats. This would be a nice grilled hamburger wine.
Overall I really liked this one, smooth enough to drink alone and I am curious to see how the other labrat likes it with pizza! I’m thinking I need to give PS another chance. Thanks for letting me try another wine!
87 Points: Dark red-fruit aromas meet with clove and star anise on the slightly sour nose of this bottling. Dried red-plum flavors mix with an array of herbs on the earthy palate. 7/1/19 MK
Bottle arrived Thursday, but saved it for Friday night when we have an extra taster, and just ‘cause it’s Friday! Looking forward to trying the bottle of petite sirah from Hearst Ranch Winery
Appearance: very dark ruby red
Pop & pour: needs some air, a bit tight.
Next taste through the Venturi, still not much nose. Fruity and slightly sweet, but still fairly light. Long finish, dry, tart and tannic, a bit of a bite/alcohol to it.
30 mins later: lots of blackberry on the nose. Initial taste is lots of berry and still a bit of fruity sweetness. Finish smoothed out, dry & tart.
If you like a jammy wine with a bit of sweetness, and a rich/tannic finish. We aren’t fans of the sweetness (though it’s in no way a sweet wine), but flavors were otherwise good.
I totally lucked out and got to try this one courtesy of lucky labrat @cruelmelody (thank you!!). He won’t be around to finish his bottle this weekend so his loss is my gain! And since it’s been open since Thursday, I basically have to try it right away even though its 11 am, right? (don’t judge)
As soon as I got home from picking up the wine, I immediately pulled out the cork and sniffed the bottle. I got a whiff of dark fruit (maybe plums?) which makes me super stoked to take a sip. Pouring it into the glass, now I’m getting some floral notes with a bit of pepper on the nose as well. The color is a gorgeous inky garnet.
The first sip is a bit tannic but it mellows out into a lovely berry-chocolate-pepper blend. I think it’s super smooth. The more I sip, the more I’m enjoying the complexity in this wine. I think this will pair well with savory foods. I wish I’d had this for pizza night last night! I’m heading to a BBQ later today so I think the rest of this bottle will be going with me. Overall, with how much I enjoyed this glass, the casemates price is tempting.
I asked for a PS labrat during a previous report, and I got what I asked for! Got an email Tuesday, so made for a good end of the week when this showed up. Unfortunately it was moving week, so I wasn’t able to pick this up until this morning.
First impression on PnP was not much alcohol flavor and sweeter than I’m used to with a young PS. That said, I rarely open my PS bottles until they are 5-6 years old, so this was definitely the youngest PS I’ve probably had outside a random glass in a restaurant. Very little tannins initially. Was looking forward to trying this an hour later during dinner.
Went to a Mexican tapas BYOB place and knew exactly what I was going to order with it - flank steak with a spicy guajillo chile sauce and I wasn’t disappointed! The wine had opened up in the 60-90 mins since opening and I definitely got those fruit (blackberry and maybe plum) and oak hints that others mentioned and the tannic came through, but it was all just very mild and a little sweet, which worked well with a spicy steak dish!
My fiance is normally a Pinot Noir fan, and she was pleasantly surprised by this, as she had more experience with my Wellington and Two Jakes PS WW offerings. Those are definitely more my cup of wine, as this offering is much less big, but not necessarily in a bad way. I would happily pick this up at $16 a bottle - now to confirm with the fiance if we have space and/or if I’m allowed!!
2016 Hearst Ranch Winery “The Pergola” Petite Sirah
Tasting Notes
Our estate Petite Sirah continues to amaze us with its well-mannered nature. This 2016 vintage is beautifully soft and approachable. The color is dense and brilliant, and the nose offers notes of blueberries and lilac. On the palate, you will find this wine supple and rich with support from a subtle, yet regal tannin structure. Hints of medium plus toasted oak add depth and the firm acidity frames everything in for a well-composed delivery.
Specifications
Included in the Box
Price Comparison
$479.19/case (including shipping) at Hearst Ranch Winery
About The Winery
Winery: Hearst Ranch Winery
Owners: Steve Hearst and Jim Saunders
Location: San Simeon, CA
Steve Hearst and Jim Saunders began their business and personal relationship after Jim purchased a Hearst Ranch tour at a Hearst Cancer Resource Center fundraiser. As the saying goes, “a meeting of the minds” developed into this benevolent project—Hearst Ranch Winery.
Independently, Steve Hearst and Jim Saunders are accomplished businessmen that have the talent, imagination and integrity to create great things. Collectively, their shared vision on sustainable agriculture, resource protection and historical preservation brought Hearst Ranch Winery to fruition. These men have fostered a friendship and an enduring devotion to their community.
The hand-crafted offerings of Hearst Ranch Winery have been brought to life by the collaboration of sound agricultural practices, impeccable winemaking and the philanthropic involvement of Steve Hearst and Jim Saunders. The fruit from California’s Central Coast vineyards is among the finest in the world. Blend in the talent of our winemaker and you get Hearst Ranch Wines, exhibiting the excellence that is a testimony to the “Legacy of Quality™”—synonymous with the Hearst tradition.
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Friday, August 23rd - Tuesday, August 27th
Hearst Ranch Winery “The Pergola” Petite Sirah
3 bottles for $XX.XX $XX/bottle + $2.67/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $XXX.XX $XX.XX/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
2016 Hearst Ranch Winery “The Pergola” Petite Sirah
[edit: pricing removed on vintner’s request]
Interesting someone at work was just telling me how much they like their cabs, yeah I know this is a petite.
You know what’s nice? Getting a surprise email 13,000 miles into a four-month work travel schedule that still has roughly 6,000 more miles to go. Heading home for a bit of breather was made even more pleasant with the surprise from Ariana that there would be a package waiting for me to be picked up! It’s as though Casemates knew I was due for a bit of R&R between Friday and Tuesday…
Anyway, let’s get to the Vino:
Hearst Ranch Winery “The Pergola” Petite Sirah, 2016
I love a red wine, and even more so the justification to head to the grocery store with the excuse of finding something to throw on the grill. Tonight we’re going with steak chimichurri and various vegetable kebabs over some hardwood charcoal.
On first pour this is a lovely, deeply dark purple wine. I’m not looking into a black hole, but it’s darn close. Bouquet is decidedly berry: black and blue, with an underlying aroma of just a hint of pepper. A first sip provides exactly what I expected: enough tannin structure that I could probably erect its namesake Pergola from just a few drops out of the bottle. Knowing that this wine will likely take some time and effort to relax, I decided to allow the wine to decant in the bottle for an hour or so while I prepped and cooked dinner.
With time and with food, this wine is an approachable, enjoyable example of the Petite Sirah variety. Practicing patience that will allow it to adequately breathe and settle is going to be paramount, and so I’m holding back a bit on description and judgement to enjoy the second half of the bottle tomorrow (Saturday) evening with some wood-fired pizza out of the backyard. Still, I thought the community would be interested in first impressions, so here we are. My bet is that this is an option to hold for 4-5 years before you risk any depreciation of quality.
My apologies for the initial short rattage, but I’ll be back here to see how this plays out, and I hope you will be too. For now though, I need to find some rest, even if it’s not in the opulent bedrooms of Xanadu.
Cheers!
@Aureliano
Good job. Always good to taste a 2nd night … if there’s any left after the 1st night!
@MarkDaSpark
Clearly you’re getting some, question is;
just three, or a case?
@rjquillin
I take it you want a bottle or three?
@Aureliano
Chiming back in for round two: after just about 24 hours uncorked, this wine is ready to be enjoyed: Blackberry, Pepper, Oak. Still a wonderful purple color, and just a hint sweeter than other PS bottles I’ve enjoyed, but not in a way that’s off-putting at all, it’s very pleasant. Giving it the extra time results in a wine that is open, has a great mouth feel, and left me wishing that I’d saved a bit more for Saturday evening rather than sampling as much as I did on Friday night. If you’re on the fence about purchasing, the case price makes this a great value in the quality for price matrix, but I’m still working on inventory reduction so the moratorium remains…
Thanks WD, Hearst and Ariana for the opportunity to rat this bottle!
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: Tax & Shipping not included in savings calculations)
2016 Hearst Ranch Winery “The Pergola” Petite Sirah - $50 = 20.82%
I was also a lucky labratter! I’m not terribly experienced with petite sirah, as I found my first few forays to be a bit too tannic and heavy for my taste. So although I don’t have much to compare this wine to, I’ll try to share some thoughts as best as I can!
I got the wine on Thursday, and seeing it was a fairly young PS I decided to pop it open that night so I could get some second day thoughts down for you. Full disclosure - I attended a mezcal tasting before I got home so my palette was a little shot. But on PnP I was really surprised how mild the wine was! Not a PS that turns your mouth and teeth purple after just one glass. It was a bit closed, but I picked up a little toasty oak on the nose, and got cocoa, pepper, and dark fruit from my small taste. The tannins seem pretty mild and well incorporated to me, honestly very different than what I was expecting. I’m pleasantly surprised! Didn’t pick up any alcohol, its pretty smooth and tasty for how young it is. Put it away for day two.
Really liking the wine today. Picking up blackberry / blueberry on the nose, with some pomegranate thrown in. Those same flavors are coming through, with nice smooth tannins you can feel on the sides of your tongue. Long finish, with briney notes. I’ve been drinking a lot of Baja wines lately, and there is a distinct saltwater / brine flavor that I really enjoy, and am picking up distinctly here.
I’m not eating meat right now, but I would definitely pair this with tomato sauces or fatty meats. This would be a nice grilled hamburger wine.
Overall I really liked this one, smooth enough to drink alone and I am curious to see how the other labrat likes it with pizza! I’m thinking I need to give PS another chance. Thanks for letting me try another wine!
And from Wine Enthusiast:
87 Points: Dark red-fruit aromas meet with clove and star anise on the slightly sour nose of this bottling. Dried red-plum flavors mix with an array of herbs on the earthy palate. 7/1/19 MK
https://www.winemag.com/buying-guide/hearst-ranch-2016-the-pergola-petite-sirah-paso-robles/
fwiw
Bottle arrived Thursday, but saved it for Friday night when we have an extra taster, and just ‘cause it’s Friday! Looking forward to trying the bottle of petite sirah from Hearst Ranch Winery
Appearance: very dark ruby red
Pop & pour: needs some air, a bit tight.
Next taste through the Venturi, still not much nose. Fruity and slightly sweet, but still fairly light. Long finish, dry, tart and tannic, a bit of a bite/alcohol to it.
30 mins later: lots of blackberry on the nose. Initial taste is lots of berry and still a bit of fruity sweetness. Finish smoothed out, dry & tart.
If you like a jammy wine with a bit of sweetness, and a rich/tannic finish. We aren’t fans of the sweetness (though it’s in no way a sweet wine), but flavors were otherwise good.
I totally lucked out and got to try this one courtesy of lucky labrat @cruelmelody (thank you!!). He won’t be around to finish his bottle this weekend so his loss is my gain! And since it’s been open since Thursday, I basically have to try it right away even though its 11 am, right? (don’t judge)
As soon as I got home from picking up the wine, I immediately pulled out the cork and sniffed the bottle. I got a whiff of dark fruit (maybe plums?) which makes me super stoked to take a sip. Pouring it into the glass, now I’m getting some floral notes with a bit of pepper on the nose as well. The color is a gorgeous inky garnet.
The first sip is a bit tannic but it mellows out into a lovely berry-chocolate-pepper blend. I think it’s super smooth. The more I sip, the more I’m enjoying the complexity in this wine. I think this will pair well with savory foods. I wish I’d had this for pizza night last night! I’m heading to a BBQ later today so I think the rest of this bottle will be going with me. Overall, with how much I enjoyed this glass, the casemates price is tempting.
@origamipenguins for science!
@CruelMelody
@CruelMelody @origamipenguins
Only since Thursday!?
Likely just now coming into it’s own.
It’s PS.
@rjquillin I would definitely agree. It’s basically perfect right now!
I asked for a PS labrat during a previous report, and I got what I asked for! Got an email Tuesday, so made for a good end of the week when this showed up. Unfortunately it was moving week, so I wasn’t able to pick this up until this morning.
First impression on PnP was not much alcohol flavor and sweeter than I’m used to with a young PS. That said, I rarely open my PS bottles until they are 5-6 years old, so this was definitely the youngest PS I’ve probably had outside a random glass in a restaurant. Very little tannins initially. Was looking forward to trying this an hour later during dinner.
Went to a Mexican tapas BYOB place and knew exactly what I was going to order with it - flank steak with a spicy guajillo chile sauce and I wasn’t disappointed! The wine had opened up in the 60-90 mins since opening and I definitely got those fruit (blackberry and maybe plum) and oak hints that others mentioned and the tannic came through, but it was all just very mild and a little sweet, which worked well with a spicy steak dish!
My fiance is normally a Pinot Noir fan, and she was pleasantly surprised by this, as she had more experience with my Wellington and Two Jakes PS WW offerings. Those are definitely more my cup of wine, as this offering is much less big, but not necessarily in a bad way. I would happily pick this up at $16 a bottle - now to confirm with the fiance if we have space and/or if I’m allowed!!
Almost forgot!
/giphy acidic-dull-chain
