2017 Cowboy Kent Rosenblum Petite Sirah from Contra Costa County

2017 Cowboy Kent Rosenblum Petite Sirah

Contra Costa County (USA)

President's Day Wine Up is a 2017 Cowboy Kent Rosenblum Petite Sirah from Contra Costa County.  Beautiful color, clarity and alcohol to tannins balance.  A little short on the finish. 

Petite Sirah was originally named Durif as it was developed by Dr. Francois Durif in the 1870's.  The good doctor used it as a hybrid grape that wasn't susceptible Powdery Mildew. He named the grape Durif, though confusion about the strain later led to it being named Petite Sirah.

Petite Sirah is mostly used as a blending grape as it contributes body, depth and is adept at toning down excessive “jaminess”, though in recent years it has been given more of an opportunity to shine as a dominant varietal.

In 2018, Kent Rosenblum, CEO of Rockwall Wine Company, the good-natured veterinarian from Minnesota who co-founded Rosenblum Cellars in 1978 and helped popularize super-premium Zinfandel, passed away.  Rosenblum Cellars grew to become a stalwart producer of Zinfandel and Rhone Varietals, producing 200,000 cases each year, and was known as one of the "three Rs of Zinfandel" (Ravenswood, Ridge, and Rosenblum) before it was sold to Diageo in 2008 for $105 million (the brand is now owned by Bronco Wine Co).  Dr. Rosenblum then started up Rock Wall Wine Co. with his daughter, Shauna as winemaker.   Dr. Rosenblum received an award for ‘Lifetime Achievement in Urban Winemaking’ from The East Bay Vintners Alliance in 2015.  

Pairing:  Steaks, roasts, game and barbecued meat.