Santa Barbara California is the next place the 12 Days of Petite Sirah is stopping off. Lucas & Lewellen Vineyards makes a wide array of wines under several different labels. Founded in 1996 they have acreage under vine in three separate and distinct areas of Santa Barbara County. One of their 
labels (Mandolina) is dedicated to Italian varietals.
The 2005 Lucas & Lewellen Vineyards Petite Sirah I 100% varietal. All the fruit comes from their Los Alamos vineyard which is within the cool climate Santa Barbara AVA. This wine spent 17 months in French Oak. 507 cases were bottled and it retails for $26.
Plum, blueberry and a hint of strawberry dominate the nose of this wine. The first sip showed notes of black pepper and kirsch liqueur through to the mid-palate. Blackberry and eucalyptus notes come out on the finish which also reveals and undercurrent of cedar and vanilla notes. This wine is well balanced with a terrific acidity. This is a medium bodied but full flavored Petite Sirah with lighter and brighter fruit than the average. I had this with spice rubbed roast chicken cooked in my rotisserie and it matched up nicely. It will however match up with a wide array of foods and won't need to
While the Lucas & Lewellen Petite Sirah is enjoyable now it seems like it should get better and more complex with some additional time in the bottle. A couple of years or so should more than do the trick. It's balanced enough to last quite a bit longer than that too.
Check out PS I love You, the Advocacy Group dedicated to this great varietal.
Up Next: 12 Days of Petite Sirah Continues!!!
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