I don’t think “Captain Joe” was actually a pirate, but I couldn’t pass up the chance to legitimately title a wine review with “Arrrrrr!” Forgive me.
Concannon Vineyard made the very first Petite Sirah in the United States. They’ve been doing it for 130-ish years now. So, they make a few different PS’s, and they tend to do them well.
The Captain Joe’s is 80% Petite Sirah and 20% Syrah, and this gives it more of an edge and cuts some of the berry that often accompanies Petite Sirah. It still stains the hell out of your teeth, though. (Don’t you love that about PS? I do.)
In the glass it’s a light garnet red with some nice sparkle. You can see through it just a bit, but not like a rose or anything. On the nose are some nice earthy notes, like mushroom and soil. It mixes with a pleasant espresso/coffee note: just a bit of a bitter burn smell, but very faint, and actually very pleasant, not at all “bad”-smelling.
The fruit of the Petite Sirah comes through on the palate in a big way. Sour cherry mixes with a light raspberry note and it all comes through with a medium body that coats the mouth just enough to announce its presence, without feeling heavy or overwhelming.
All in all, very pleasant, and perhaps the best of Concannon’s Petite Sirahs that I’ve enjoyed.
Verdict: 89/100