Deep and brooding, this Petite Sirah is brimming with aromas of blackberry, plum, and black currant. The intense, jammy fruit provides the drama while subtle notes of mocha and hazelnut bring finesse. Stokes’ Ghost is full-bodied with balanced tannins and a finish that lingers on the palate. This rich, lush wine is just what the doctor ordered.
Winemaking
The Petite Sirah grapes in this wine were harvested at night in the southernmost reaches of the Monterey appellation, an ideal location for growing this dramatic, heart-stopping variety. Upon arrival to the winery, the grapes were crushed and fermented in small lots to extract the full flavors and tannin structure for which Petite Sirah is so well known. The wine was then pressed and racked at dryness for oak aging.
Specs
Vintage: 2020
Varietal: Petie Sirah
Appellation: Monterey
Aging: Aged in American, French, and Hungarian oak for 12 months
In 1833, British sailor James Stokes jumped ship in Monterey with a booty of stolen medicine. He opened a downtown pharmacy and launched a thriving medical practice as “Dr. Stokes”. Despite a knack for killing his patients, he landed a commission as the personal physician to California Governor Jose Figueroa. Within a year, the governor was dead.
The phony physician was astonishingly successful for someone so poor at his job. He grew wealthy, married the widow of one of his patients, and served as mayor of Monterey. Eventually, the gig was up. According to legend, Stokes’ sons confronted him of his devious deeds and he ingested poison, falling lifeless at their feet. His former home still stands and to this day, is haunted by the ghostly figure of a man dressed in 1800s garb. This is the legend of Stokes’ Ghost.
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations).
2020 Stokes’ Ghost Petite Sirah - $80 = 33.32%
Always appreciate the opportunity to contribute to the rattage. Thankfully this one arrived early enough (nearly a week ago) to find a good time to taste after all the tiny humans were in bed, which we did two nights ago. I was then able to come back for Round 2 tonight at +48 hours to add some more thoughts.
Initial Appearance
Lovely bottle with a wax seal. Bonus points for the topical message buried underneath when you pull it open. It pours a deep plum, with a medium (my assessment) to full (the better half’s) body. The legs run slow and are spaced nicely apart.
Aroma & First Taste
Initially, mint and leather, with no strong fruit notes to report. During the initial sips, we picked up black pepper, some chalk, and perhaps light strawberry. It’s very dry.
Pairings
Due to the aforementioned offspring, we sampled alongside a late-evening hodgepodge of leftovers and random things from the pantry…
Chicken wings with cajun (Slap Ya Mama) and Old Bay dry seasoning - I found this cut nicely through the spice and cleared the palate between bites but otherwise didn’t overtake any of the flavors
Town House Italian flatbread crisps - another neutral pairing; you could still easily taste the herbs from the crackers after each sip
Semisweet chocolate - pulled out some berry flavors, almost a chocolate-covered cherry taste
Gusto Genoa salame - spicy pepper, initially I got a slight metallic taste, the meat flavor overpowered the wine
Blue Diamond Korean BBQ almonds - the wine enhanced the smoky flavor in both the wine and the nuts, nice pairing
Dried strawberries - the wine itself was again rather neutral, but the overall berry flavor was enhanced
48 Hours Later
The bottle sat on our counter, corked, for the past two days. It’s warm this week so it’s probably been resting at 74-76 degrees that whole time.
On the nose, I picked up some fruit - muted raspberry or blackberry, maybe a smidge of raisin - whereas I perceived none in Round 1. Still getting enough pepper that it tingles the nose slightly with a good whiff.
As soon as it hits my palate it remains super dry, with a quick and clean finish. Overall I’d say a bit more put together than the first taste, but not significantly different.
Overall
This is solidly in the Old World camp for me. A very nice wine, with great structure and no harsh qualities, just not necessarily my usual cup of tea. That said, it didn’t get in the way of any food we sampled alongside and it held up well on its own.
Rather reasonable QPR per usual on here. Although I won’t be picking any up this time, I think plenty of folks would be quite satisfied with this deal.
I hate to say it but I have to question that Stokes Ghost is legitimately a “winery” as stated in the writeup. It’s a label!
Please someone tell me what is the address of this winery.
Since you have to zoom in on the back of the bottle to see Sheid makes this I would call this practice deceptive just like Bronco wines has 20 labels to hide that they are the large corporation making so much wine.
I bought the previous offer and the wine is fine, I just don’t get a good feeling about the way this is being sold.
@klezman@midai@theglassrat but - Scheid IS a winery - they have a tasting room and winery along the 101 and a tasting room in Carmel - and own literally thousands of acres of vines….
@midai@tercerowines@theglassrat yes, correct, Larry. I don’t know why one would care that it’s one level of a well known winery vs a separate winery in its own right.
Is this setup “better” or “worse” than something like Treasury, where they own wineries who have varying levels of independence?
I don’t particularly care - it’s what’s in the bottle that counts.
@klezman@midai@tercerowines@theglassrat yes and no. Doesn’t a big winery like Scheid that mass produces wine skimp on some of the more personal winemaking? Nuances?
@klezman@losthighwayz@midai@theglassrat I think it’s very easy to jump to that conclusion these days. I’m not sure that that is always the case. They have a very impressive winery with lots of different size for mentors to be able to get the job done. Big does not necessarily mean bad. You know that some of the first group Bordeaux producers make tens of thousands of cases right?
@klezman@midai@tercerowines@theglassrat I see your point but hard for me to believe that bigger wineries like Scheid are churning out boutique wines in such a big production facility
It’s a business after all.
Gallo is different because they acquire boutique wineries that continue to operate as independent businesses. At least that’s what they say but again may not be true
@klezman@losthighwayz@midai@theglassrat but you say ‘boutique wines’ - can you please define that concept? I get what you are trying to say but ‘perception’ does not always equal reality - and that goes both ways…
@klezman@losthighwayz@tercerowines@theglassrat Props to Gallo for doing business the right way. Looking at the Gallo Signature Series bottles, if they bought a winery, they are putting their name on the front of each bottle that they are the company now behind it.
I’m not saying that Scheid is doing anything wrong. You can actually find their name on the back of the bottle.
Casemates still shows that the winery is Stokes Ghost. That is just not correct. It was never a winery that Scheid bought. It was never a winery.
That Enthusiast review, Dec of ‘22:
90 Points. Fresh if somewhat tart aromas of violet, lavender and cracked pepper show on the nose of this bottling. The palate carries that floral line forward with more lavender as well as blueberry-candy flavors, as tannins rise into the finish. — Matt Kettmann
And looks like a 92 from Tasting Panel:
This ghost makes itself easily ap- proachable! Aged in American, French, and Hungarian oak for 12 months, the wine is an earthbound and extracted extrovert, concentrated in a well-structured frame.Teeth-grabbing slate and plum-skin tannins are enveloped in blackberry, bramble, and dark chocolate.
I purchased a case last time. I have a couple of bottles left. If I had room, I would be buying another case. We just happen to be in the process of moving and I still have about 12 bottles of wine I have to drink one the next month so I just can’t buy right now.
It is always a pleasure receiving an email from Alice. Here goes:
Expecting a full bodied high tannin petit syrah we decided to pair it with chicken curry. After uncorking & decanting we let the wine breath for a good 2 hours. Initially pouring showed a dark red color. The nose was surprisingly jammy, & almost sweet. The nose matched the initial taste. A great wine, with wonderful fruit notes of plum & blackberry. Full bodied, but low on the tannins. A very drinkable wine with or without a bold food pairing. Would definitely recommend as a petit syrah “go to”.
Am literally right now drinking the last bottle from last year’s offering as I enjoy a lovely hunk of grilled local beef-- and am still entirely pleased with what’s hitting my mouf buds. It drinks like a savory port without all the brix, and over the last year I’ve enjoyed it with everything from smoked game to mac and cheese to fresh peach gelato. So glad to have the opportunity to replenish my supply; in for another case. Thanks!
2020 Stokes’ Ghost Petite Sirah
90 points - Wine Enthusiast
Tasting Notes
Winemaking
Specs
What’s Included
3-bottles:
Case:
Price Comparison
Not for sale online, $540/case MSRP
About The Winery
Available States
AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, FL, GA, ID, IL, IA, KS, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NM, NY, NC, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, WA, WV, WI, WY
Estimated Delivery
Monday, Oct 23 - Wednesday, Oct 25
2020 Stokes’ Ghost Petite Sirah
3 bottles for $59.99 $20/bottle + $2.67/bottle shipping
Case of 12 for $159.99 $13.33/bottle + $1/bottle shipping
Previous offer:
10/5/22
How much more are you saving by buying a full case?
(Note: tax and shipping are not included in savings calculations).
2020 Stokes’ Ghost Petite Sirah - $80 = 33.32%
Always appreciate the opportunity to contribute to the rattage. Thankfully this one arrived early enough (nearly a week ago) to find a good time to taste after all the tiny humans were in bed, which we did two nights ago. I was then able to come back for Round 2 tonight at +48 hours to add some more thoughts.
Initial Appearance
Lovely bottle with a wax seal. Bonus points for the topical message buried underneath when you pull it open. It pours a deep plum, with a medium (my assessment) to full (the better half’s) body. The legs run slow and are spaced nicely apart.
Aroma & First Taste
Initially, mint and leather, with no strong fruit notes to report. During the initial sips, we picked up black pepper, some chalk, and perhaps light strawberry. It’s very dry.
Pairings
Due to the aforementioned offspring, we sampled alongside a late-evening hodgepodge of leftovers and random things from the pantry…
48 Hours Later
The bottle sat on our counter, corked, for the past two days. It’s warm this week so it’s probably been resting at 74-76 degrees that whole time.
On the nose, I picked up some fruit - muted raspberry or blackberry, maybe a smidge of raisin - whereas I perceived none in Round 1. Still getting enough pepper that it tingles the nose slightly with a good whiff.
As soon as it hits my palate it remains super dry, with a quick and clean finish. Overall I’d say a bit more put together than the first taste, but not significantly different.
Overall
This is solidly in the Old World camp for me. A very nice wine, with great structure and no harsh qualities, just not necessarily my usual cup of tea. That said, it didn’t get in the way of any food we sampled alongside and it held up well on its own.
Rather reasonable QPR per usual on here. Although I won’t be picking any up this time, I think plenty of folks would be quite satisfied with this deal.
@sdilullo
74-76°F is a bit warm, imo, for consumption.
did you chill it down a bit at all for your tastings?
@rjquillin fair point - i can’t say for certain
it was cooler over the weekend so i believe it was cooler during the original tasting
but i did not chill this evening before tasting what remained in the bottle
How much stolen medicine did this Stokes character fit in his booty?
I hate to say it but I have to question that Stokes Ghost is legitimately a “winery” as stated in the writeup. It’s a label!
Please someone tell me what is the address of this winery.
Since you have to zoom in on the back of the bottle to see Sheid makes this I would call this practice deceptive just like Bronco wines has 20 labels to hide that they are the large corporation making so much wine.
I bought the previous offer and the wine is fine, I just don’t get a good feeling about the way this is being sold.
@midai Looks like it’s part of Scheid Family Wines
https://www.scheidfamilywines.com/our-brands
@midai @theglassrat That’s kind of his point - that it’s a label and not a winery.
@klezman @midai @theglassrat but - Scheid IS a winery - they have a tasting room and winery along the 101 and a tasting room in Carmel - and own literally thousands of acres of vines….
@midai @tercerowines @theglassrat yes, correct, Larry. I don’t know why one would care that it’s one level of a well known winery vs a separate winery in its own right.
Is this setup “better” or “worse” than something like Treasury, where they own wineries who have varying levels of independence?
I don’t particularly care - it’s what’s in the bottle that counts.
@klezman @midai @tercerowines @theglassrat yes and no. Doesn’t a big winery like Scheid that mass produces wine skimp on some of the more personal winemaking? Nuances?
@klezman @losthighwayz @midai @theglassrat I think it’s very easy to jump to that conclusion these days. I’m not sure that that is always the case. They have a very impressive winery with lots of different size for mentors to be able to get the job done. Big does not necessarily mean bad. You know that some of the first group Bordeaux producers make tens of thousands of cases right?
@losthighwayz @midai @tercerowines @theglassrat to put it another way, Scheid != Gallo or Charles Shaw. And bigger doesn’t necessarily mean worse.
@klezman @losthighwayz @midai @theglassrat but …. Gallo has multiple brands at multiple price points.
@klezman @losthighwayz @midai @tercerowines @theglassrat I have had some delicious wines in the Gallo Signature Series.
@klezman @midai @tercerowines @theglassrat I see your point but hard for me to believe that bigger wineries like Scheid are churning out boutique wines in such a big production facility
It’s a business after all.
Gallo is different because they acquire boutique wineries that continue to operate as independent businesses. At least that’s what they say but again may not be true
@klezman @losthighwayz @midai @theglassrat but you say ‘boutique wines’ - can you please define that concept? I get what you are trying to say but ‘perception’ does not always equal reality - and that goes both ways…
@klezman @losthighwayz @tercerowines @theglassrat Props to Gallo for doing business the right way. Looking at the Gallo Signature Series bottles, if they bought a winery, they are putting their name on the front of each bottle that they are the company now behind it.
I’m not saying that Scheid is doing anything wrong. You can actually find their name on the back of the bottle.
Casemates still shows that the winery is Stokes Ghost. That is just not correct. It was never a winery that Scheid bought. It was never a winery.
@losthighwayz @midai @tercerowines @theglassrat I see…so your actual beef is that CM lists the “winery” as Stokes Ghost rather than Scheid. Fair enough.
That Enthusiast review, Dec of ‘22:
90 Points. Fresh if somewhat tart aromas of violet, lavender and cracked pepper show on the nose of this bottling. The palate carries that floral line forward with more lavender as well as blueberry-candy flavors, as tannins rise into the finish. — Matt Kettmann
And looks like a 92 from Tasting Panel:
This ghost makes itself easily ap- proachable! Aged in American, French, and Hungarian oak for 12 months, the wine is an earthbound and extracted extrovert, concentrated in a well-structured frame.Teeth-grabbing slate and plum-skin tannins are enveloped in blackberry, bramble, and dark chocolate.
fwiw
I purchased a case last time. I have a couple of bottles left. If I had room, I would be buying another case. We just happen to be in the process of moving and I still have about 12 bottles of wine I have to drink one the next month so I just can’t buy right now.
@jleonar78 only 12?
It is always a pleasure receiving an email from Alice. Here goes:
Expecting a full bodied high tannin petit syrah we decided to pair it with chicken curry. After uncorking & decanting we let the wine breath for a good 2 hours. Initially pouring showed a dark red color. The nose was surprisingly jammy, & almost sweet. The nose matched the initial taste. A great wine, with wonderful fruit notes of plum & blackberry. Full bodied, but low on the tannins. A very drinkable wine with or without a bold food pairing. Would definitely recommend as a petit syrah “go to”.
Am literally right now drinking the last bottle from last year’s offering as I enjoy a lovely hunk of grilled local beef-- and am still entirely pleased with what’s hitting my mouf buds. It drinks like a savory port without all the brix, and over the last year I’ve enjoyed it with everything from smoked game to mac and cheese to fresh peach gelato. So glad to have the opportunity to replenish my supply; in for another case. Thanks!
Love me some Petite - almost as much as I love Grenache
@tercerowines nothing better than a Grenache, except maybe a Grenache. Wish casemates would/could feature more
@Leatherchair patience grasshopper….
@Leatherchair @tercerowines only thing better than a Grenache might be a Garnacha
@james @Leatherchair I’ll take a Grenache over a garnacha most days….
@james @Leatherchair @tercerowines aren’t they the same ?
@james @Leatherchair @losthighwayz technically yes, but I find Spanish Garnachas to be ‘different’ than domestic or French Grenaches… YMMV…
@tercerowines interesting preference considering your name
Guess the Spanish would be your second or… third choice?
@james @tercerowines haha
Labrats mention Port and sweet
Add Scheid to the mix
And I’m out
How about Poizin for Halloween?
@losthighwayz l can’t speak to Scheid, but the last case was wonderful… dipping in again. Your loss, I fear.
@PaleMongo any RS or sweetness?
@PaleMongo for a similar price point and with a Halloween theme I prefer Poizin from Armida. Then again I love zin
@losthighwayz just remember’sweet’ is truly subjective ….
/giphy upbeat-waiting-steak
Been waiting a while for a Petite Syrah offering here. Favorite varietal, seemingly not so common.
/giphy chilly-brilliant-martini
What was the original offer for this PS? Thanks
@NC27407 If you look at the beginning of this thread, one of the first posts (by @ilCesare) shows:
Is this what you are asking?
@ilCesare @Mark_L Thanks. First 5 comments with that info were HIDden.