Clayhouse Petite Sirah, Estate Vineyards
$64.99 + $5 shipping
CONDITION: Red
PRODUCTS:
2 2009 Clayhouse Estate Old Vines Petite Sirah, Red Cedar Vineyard Paso Robles
2 2009 Clayhouse Estate Block 87 Petite Sirah, Red Cedar Vineyard Paso Robles
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Previous offers:
2/17/12
8/3/09

Love Clayhouse PS wines!! In for 2!

Goddamnit. I try to be good and not buy wine, and WD has to feature some block- and vineyard-specific wines I haven't tried before from a guy I really like whose wines I've enjoyed in the past.

WD, since you guys seem to have an abundance of lambs, couldn't you at least send me one with this order?

Folks, this is an easy buy. Clayhouse is great people (Rusty is AWESOME), and they make great wines. More structure, darker fruits than many of the PaSo petites, and these are VERY well priced -- I wouldn't bat an eyelash at paying $22-24 for these, retail (if I could find them) and $70 shipped for 4 is a no-brainer.

PetiteSirah wrote:Goddamnit. I try to be good and not buy wine, and WD has to feature some block- and vineyard-specific wines I haven't tried before from a guy I really like whose wines I've enjoyed in the past.

WD, since you guys seem to have an abundance of lambs, couldn't you at least send me one with this order?

Folks, this is an easy buy. Clayhouse is great people, and they make great wines. More structure, darker fruits than many of the PaSo petites, and these are VERY well priced -- I wouldn't bat an eyelash at paying $22-24 for these, retail (if I could find them) and $70 shipped for 4 is a no-brainer.

+1

I was so tempted by the Zin, but now I'm glad I resisted them. Slightly.

Now to find room for these.



(wish I have those racks!!)

Went in on the last offer. I really enjoyed the Block 87 but haven't tried the other one yet.

Hmmm... I'm trying to be good and not buy more wine. I already failed on this with yesterday's offer, and I wouldn't mind more of this one.

Great label, great offering, great price.

I predict back to back sellouts.

MarkDaSpark wrote:+1

I was so tempted by the Zin, but now I'm glad I resisted them. Slightly.

Now to find room for these.



(wish I have those racks!!)

Those racks! Those racks!!!

Sheesh! I think the Woot monkeys need new glasses.


Oh wait, I think I found the problem. They are wearing their old glasses!!!

PetiteSirah wrote:Goddamnit. I try to be good and not buy wine, and WD has to feature some block- and vineyard-specific wines I haven't tried before from a guy I really like whose wines I've enjoyed in the past.

WD, since you guys seem to have an abundance of lambs, couldn't you at least send me one with this order?

Folks, this is an easy buy. Clayhouse is great people (Rusty is AWESOME), and they make great wines. More structure, darker fruits than many of the PaSo petites, and these are VERY well priced -- I wouldn't bat an eyelash at paying $22-24 for these, retail (if I could find them) and $70 shipped for 4 is a no-brainer.

Hi Loweeel
Your thumbs up is a good guide... Can I ask if the tannins are bitter young? The Ursa I tried was a bit much for me in the bitterness department even at five years old, whereas Quixote and Rasmussen's are fine young!
And complexity/ structure compared with other PS? Not sure how ordinary Paso Robles wines are meant to be to understand your comparison.
Cheers!

After looking at their website I learned they support and donate to charitable causes of furry four legged friends. I was hoping to be able to resist, especially after buying yesterday's woot, but looks like I'm in for 1. Gotta love a winery who loves animals.

LOVE the writeup (one of my favorites yet!) "Asshat Tax"...

Note to Clayhouse.....add Nebraska to your ship to list please!!!!!!!

PetiteSirah wrote:Goddamnit. I try to be good and not buy wine, and WD has to feature some block- and vineyard-specific wines I haven't tried before from a guy I really like whose wines I've enjoyed in the past.

WD, since you guys seem to have an abundance of lambs, couldn't you at least send me one with this order?

Folks, this is an easy buy. Clayhouse is great people (Rusty is AWESOME), and they make great wines. More structure, darker fruits than many of the PaSo petites, and these are VERY well priced -- I wouldn't bat an eyelash at paying $22-24 for these, retail (if I could find them) and $70 shipped for 4 is a no-brainer.

How does this producer, and their PS, compare to that from KR or from Black Zeppelin?

richardhod wrote:Hi Loweeel
Your thumbs up is a good guide... Can I ask if the tannins are bitter young? The Ursa I tried was a bit much for me in the bitterness department even at five years old, whereas Quixote and Rasmussen's are fine young!
And complexity/ structure compared with other PS? Not sure how ordinary Paso Robles wines are meant to be to understand your comparison.
Cheers!

To me, PaSo typically has more red fruits (which are not my thing -- I like blueberries, blackberries, boysenberries, and tar in my PS).

URSA is unusual in their tannins -- or perhaps it's more correct to say old school -- and this is fine to drink young. The tannins aren't bitter at all. I wouldn't say that the basic Clayhouse is as complex as KR, but I haven't had these particular wines. Single block and single vyd have a way of enhancing things.

jmdavidson wrote:How does this producer, and their PS, compare to that from KR or from Black Zeppelin?

Not dissimilar from Black Zeppelin, perhaps a bit more rustic and a bit more restrained, but again, I haven't had these particular wines.

I need someone to push me over the edge on this one. I've been buying entirely too much wine lately, but have my birthday coupon to use. I'm just struggling with the eternal Woot question of whether something I like more than this will come along later in the month. (I also have a very PS-heavy cellar, though it can hold another 100+ bottles so space isn't an issue.)

I did have the Clayhouse 2006 PS that Woot sold back in 2009. I have no doubt that I enjoyed it, but I can't remember if it knocked my socks off. Persuade me!

synchrodan wrote:I need someone to push me over the edge on this one. I've been buying entirely too much wine lately, but have my birthday coupon to use. I'm just struggling with the eternal Woot question of whether something I like more than this will come along later in the month. (I also have a very PS-heavy cellar, though it can hold another 100+ bottles so space isn't an issue.)

I did have the Clayhouse 2006 PS that Woot sold back in 2009. I have no doubt that I enjoyed it, but I can't remember if it knocked my socks off. Persuade me!

IMO Clayhouse wines start out at a good QPR. While this is not their top of the line PS (Show Pony) it is still in their highest tier (estate). I am pretty sure both of these were available to tast at D&D this year. No detailed tasting notes, but I remember being surprised that I thought these were tasting better than the Show Pony at the time.

The low alc is a plus in my book, especially from paso. I am in, just don't know how much yet.

Drinking windows, anyone? Hazard a guess, even -- from what Loweeel says it sound like these could be had young, but inquiring poor minds want to know.

ETA: Previous thread for the Block 87 says have at the young'un.

If anyone in the DFW area wants to split - just let me know.

PM me and I'll contact you when they arrive.....

Michael

synchrodan wrote:I need someone to push me over the edge on this one. I've been buying entirely too much wine lately, but have my birthday coupon to use. I'm just struggling with the eternal Woot question of whether something I like more than this will come along later in the month. (I also have a very PS-heavy cellar, though it can hold another 100+ bottles so space isn't an issue.)

I did have the Clayhouse 2006 PS that Woot sold back in 2009. I have no doubt that I enjoyed it, but I can't remember if it knocked my socks off. Persuade me!

I'm telling you to buy it :-). How's that for persuasion?

I think we had an '06 together at some point, but these are higher end. Just the Red Cedar alone (not the block 87, which would be more expensive) goes for 24-29 on wine-searcher.

kchoschton wrote:After looking at their website I learned they support and donate to charitable causes of furry four legged friends. I was hoping to be able to resist, especially after buying yesterday's woot, but looks like I'm in for 1. Gotta love a winery who loves animals.

Fairly certain i'm in the same boat. Yesterday's purchase was the first since the wellington syrah, and that was the first in 6 months. Back to backs? Ugghhhh. *pushes the rediculously big button*

PetiteSirah wrote:I'm telling you to buy it :-). How's that for persuasion?

I think we had an '06 together at some point, but these are higher end. Just the Red Cedar alone (not the block 87, which would be more expensive) goes for 24-29 on wine-searcher.

Yeah... I am sure I had the 2006 at some point. I guess my worry here is that they won't have the big blackberry/blueberry fruit that I tend to like but will be too plummy. I'm gonna wait until I get home to see if I have my tasting notes on the 2006, but think I drank it before I started keeping notes.

Lot of great comments.
I'm not at all familiar with Petite Sirah, but, thought I'd like to dip my toe in that pool.
Anyone in No. Virginia (or perhaps DC or MD) interested in a split?

Drop me a PM. I'll check back later today.

Thanks

synchrodan wrote:Yeah... I am sure I had the 2006 at some point. I guess my worry here is that they won't have the big blackberry/blueberry fruit that I tend to like but will be too plummy. I'm gonna wait until I get home to see if I have my tasting notes on the 2006, but think I drank it before I started keeping notes.

It's not too plummy. I hear you on the plums -- I'm not a fan either.

Flybranda wrote:Lot of great comments.
I'm not at all familiar with Petite Sirah, but, thought I'd like to dip my toe in that pool.
Anyone in No. Virginia (or perhaps DC or MD) interested in a split?

Drop me a PM. I'll check back later today.

Thanks

You and Synchrodan could split...

Rusty here from the winery...

Just a bit of fun info on the wines...the Old Vines Petite comes from one of the oldest blocks of Petite on the Central Coast, planted in the 70s (I know, it doesn't sound old to me because I'm older than that...). The block is all own-rooted and head pruned, it's cool-looking throw back to the way we used to do things in the vineyard. Block 87 was planted only six years ago, from cuttings we took from the Old Vine block. Open them side-by side and see if you find any family resemblance...

pezmaker wrote:Fairly certain i'm in the same boat. Yesterday's purchase was the first since the wellington syrah, and that was the first in 6 months. Back to backs? Ugghhhh. *pushes the rediculously big button*

It's a pretty button, yes?

What!? No shipping to Wisconsin? Noooo!!!

speedy46 wrote:What!? No shipping to Wisconsin? Noooo!!!

Whoa, thank goodness I hadn't actually hit the ridiculously large button like I had said I was doing, and still mulling it over. No Wisconsin!? This is a first for me.

Oh well, decision made easy then, I guess.

rustyeddy wrote:Rusty here from the winery...

Drinking window, please?

Flybranda wrote:Lot of great comments.
I'm not at all familiar with Petite Sirah, but, thought I'd like to dip my toe in that pool.
Anyone in No. Virginia (or perhaps DC or MD) interested in a split?

Drop me a PM. I'll check back later today.

Thanks

Just PM'd ya!

pezmaker wrote:Whoa, thank goodness I hadn't actually hit the ridiculously large button like I had said I was doing, and still mulling it over. No Wisconsin!? This is a first for me.

Oh well, decision made easy then, I guess.

Speedy and Pez. Will be in the Milwaukee area in May . Interested in splitting some bottles?

oppsie wrote:Drinking window, please?

I'd say the 2009s will go for at least another four years. These are pretty balanced wines; 14.1 alcohol, 3.6 pH...the Block 87 is a bit softer than the Old Vines, so I'd drink it before the OV.

rustyeddy wrote:Rusty here from the winery...

Just a bit of fun info on the wines...the Old Vines Petite comes from one of the oldest blocks of Petite on the Central Coast, planted in the 70s (I know, it doesn't sound old to me because I'm older than that...). The block is all own-rooted and head pruned, it's cool-looking throw back to the way we used to do things in the vineyard. Block 87 was planted only six years ago, from cuttings we took from the Old Vine block. Open them side-by side and see if you find any family resemblance...

Thanks for popping in Rusty.
It looks from your website like your winery has a special place for Petite Sirah as your estate series seems to highlight that varietal. I'd love to hear your thoughts on what you believe is the best expression of PS? What characteristics of it do you seek, what makes it ideal as your showcase wine? Thanks!

No shipping to Nebraska?!?!

timmyjwoot wrote:Thanks for popping in Rusty.
It looks from your website like your winery has a special place for Petite Sirah as your estate series seems to highlight that varietal. I'd love to hear your thoughts on what you believe is the best expression of PS? What characteristics of it do you seek, what makes it ideal as your showcase wine? Thanks!

We do have a special affinity for Petite for a couple of reasons. First, we're lucky enough to have old vines, own-rooted and head pruned. It makes sense that we showcase varietal Petite flavors, rather than using the fruit only to extend or enhance other reds. (We do blend Petite into our Adobe Red, Malbec and Syrah, but not the Petite from our old vine block.)

Second, Petite is a variety that does really well in Paso. We're east of town in a fairly warm area, and vineyard elevations range from 500 to 1200 feet. The Old Vine Petite is planted in alluvial clay/loam and retains enough water so that we generally don't have a lot of berry shrivel before harvest. That means our Petites don't develop a lot of overripe, raisin flavors and we retain pretty good acidity. To us, that is the best expression of Petite: no overripe flavors, balanced alcohol (14.0-14.5) and acidity and pH levels that allow a good five or six years of cellaring.

PetiteSirah wrote:To me, PaSo typically has more red fruits (which are not my thing -- I like blueberries, blackberries, boysenberries, and tar in my PS).

URSA is unusual in their tannins -- or perhaps it's more correct to say old school -- and this is fine to drink young. The tannins aren't bitter at all. I wouldn't say that the basic Clayhouse is as complex as KR, but I haven't had these particular wines. Single block and single vyd have a way of enhancing things.

Thank you, and for all the other replies!
Anyone else in Nor/SoCal want to split?Incidentally, did you manage to get some of the Quixote PS from TJ's? If not, I could source you some.

I take it i just need to cellar those Ursa for 10 years, or 20!
Which reminds me: Dumb period: might redder-fruited PS have a different period from darker-fruited ones? Likely too-simplistic a question, but since we ave our resident PS-lover and 'spert here it's worth asking

EDIT: welcome Eddy! you too and
i love your balanced rather than bombastic approach, and modest claims!
Looks as if this isn't a longer-term PS like the KR or Black Zeppelin might be, or the 10 year wonder spot for Turley's Rattlesnake Acres. but how would you compare your wines with others, and your philosophy.. what are you trying to get out of your terroir? What extra does the old vine bring? I love how you get decent acidity despite a warm region and 27 Brix, and that it matters to you!

McMalbec wrote:Speedy and Pez. Will be in the Milwaukee area in May . Interested in splitting some bottles?

Appreciate the offer, I'm not close to Milwaukee though.

synchrodan wrote:Just PM'd ya!

Great Thanks I've also PM'd back with a few details

I'm quite the foal when it comes to PS.
Any particular food pairings / recipes someone would suggest for these wines?


Hmmm 'foal' for '*n*o*o*b*' -- interesting edit