Meeker 2002 Petite Sirah

it's a special and historic week for me and for our country. time to break out some bottles that i have been holding onto for a while. some are more expensive, but you only turn 50 once. meeker winery, known best for their handprint merlot, is also rather good at producing some other wines. their petite sirah is no exception. the nose is plum, earthy mushroom and wet forest floor, spice of pepper. really begs you to taste it right away, but be patient and just take in the aromas of this wine. let it breathe a bit. you won't be disappointed. the palate is blackberry, oak and a bit of leather thrown in. a fairly big wine that defies the word petite in its name. medium tannins and a nice long, smooth finish round this wine out. a sheer joy. sells for about $24-28, depending on where you buy your wines.