We enjoyed a nearly perfect food and wine pairing tonight with venison backstrap and a bottle of
2008 Four Vines Heretic Petite Sirah, Paso Robles. Quite cloudy in appearance, but that isn't really a problem with me when dealing with a wine like this. Uncanny blackberry jam, cream and French roast coffee leap from the glass. Unctuous,
gelatinous texture features loads of dark cocoa and blackberry liqueur. Doesn't try to hide the 14.8% alcohol. Massive tannins are balanced by deft acidity. Dry cocoa finish goes on and on. This is an absolutely stellar example of a high octane Petite Sirah. Purchased on sale for $30, regularly $40.
For dinner I pan-seared tournadoes of venison loin in a little bit of olive oil to rare. After removing them from the pan to rest, I added shallots and chopped garlic and let them cook for a minute or two. Then I added some inexpensive red wine (no, I'm not an advocate of cooking with the wine that you're drinking with dinner) and strained the concoction to a clean pan. Then I added a few tablespoons of good blackberry preserves and a touch of heavy cream and let everything reduce to the right consistency. Seasoning adjusted, I finished the sauce by returning the juices from the resting meat.
Ah, yes - The Heretic. Sigh. I do love that wine. It has been a while since I priced it, but $30 is a bargain. However, the Four Vines Petite Sirah is fabulous for about $14.
ReplyDeleteI know the '09 is under the Cypher label...even so, I have to force myself to not say Four Vines.
Yeah, kind of confusing with the split and all. Looks like someone else owns Four Vines now and it has been moved back to Sonoma. But Christian Tetje kept the funky blends (Anarchy, Heretic, etc.) and now bottles them as "Freakshow" wines at Cypher Winery.
DeleteI picked up some Anarchy and Heretic in Atlanta a few weeks ago for $30. I think it was normally $40.
Sadly, Kansas gets a really poor selection of Four Vines wines. Last time I checked, the distributor was just selling Naked Chard, the old vine Zin and Maverick Zin. I would love to try the Four Vines Petite Sirah.
The whole thing is confusing. Four Vines is now lumped in with Purple Wine Company, & I believe that at least one of the winemakers is still involved.
DeleteI was at the Cypher tasting room in January. We picked up the one with about a hundred varietals in it (I'm exaggerating), just to see how we like it. Something else, too, but I don't remember.
I don't know how far from the state line you are, but perhaps you should make a trip. Missouri Beverage is the distributor of Four Vines in MO. You know what to do from there.
I'm about an hour from a decent wine store in Missouri now. The one across the state line near Overland Park KS would be my best option. (I can get to Missouri in about 25 minutes, but there aren't any decent wine stores that far south.)
DeleteBut I'm so darn used to buying wine at work with my hefty employee discount, it's pretty hard to stomach the thought of driving an hour to pay full retail at a Missouri store.
Well, that's no fun. I get the discount addiction, I suffer from the same malady. =P I get lower than wholesale on anything we distribute, which is pretty f-ing sweet. I loved the discounts we got at wineries on our trip, & I also get a discount at some of our favorite stores. I can't complain.
ReplyDeleteClaire, do you work for a wine distributor? I don't think I knew that.
ReplyDeleteWow, better late than never, I guess. I've been a little busy.
DeleteYes, I do work for a wine & spirits distributor. A fairly small but awesome one. =P