| This is the first Mexican wine that I have | | | | steak-and-cheese enchiladas. Score - 89. (Natalie |
| reviewed. In fact, this is the first Mexican wine | | | | MacLean, at her web site, June 6, 2009) And now |
| that I have tasted in years, or perhaps in | | | | for my review. |
| decades. Mexico is the oldest wine producer in the | | | | At the first sips this wine's acidity was harsh. It |
| Americas. In 1520 the Conquistadors arrived. The | | | | had a lot of power but was harsh. The first meal |
| following year they started planting vines. By 1524 | | | | was a cheeseless lasagna made with a |
| they passed a law about planting vines. But by | | | | moderately spicy salsa. Now I felt I was actually |
| the end of the Sixteenth Century Spain passed a | | | | tasting the wine. There were plums and light, |
| law against planting additional vineyards in Mexico; | | | | pleasant tannins and chocolate. A liberal dousing of |
| winemakers in the mother country were unhappy | | | | Louisiana cayenne pepper sauce thinned this Petite |
| about the competition coming from the New | | | | Sirah. |
| World. On a per capita basis Mexicans drink one | | | | The next meal was a slow cooked London Broil |
| thirtieth of the wine consumed by Americans, | | | | steak with potato patties and green beans, all |
| who are far from world leaders in this category. | | | | cooked together. This wine was slightly sour and |
| The La Cetto Winery was founded by an Italian, | | | | grapey but did have chocolate at the finish. Once |
| Angelo Cetto, in 1930. This company now | | | | again I added Louisiana cayenne pepper sauce, |
| produces half of Mexico's wine. Its vineyards are | | | | this time it intensified the chocolate. With a palm |
| in the Valle de Guadalupe in northern Baja | | | | heart, green pimento, olive, canned corn, and |
| California, the major Mexican wine producing area. | | | | chickpeas salad the wine was strong with |
| Petite Sirah is a relatively little known variety that | | | | chocolate predominating. |
| may be a very low-grade French red grape or | | | | My final meal consisted of meatballs and rice with |
| perhaps a relative of the popular Syrah. This | | | | a side of cooked zucchini and chickpeas in a |
| bottle carries a sticker of the Taster's Guild, | | | | ground tomato sauce. The wine was dark with |
| announcing a Silver Winning Wine 2009 at their | | | | plums and grapes in the background. It seemed |
| International Wine Judging. | | | | weaker when paired with the veggies. |
| OUR WINE REVIEW POLICY - All wines that we | | | | With a Swiss cheese this Petite Sirah was not |
| taste and review are purchased at the full retail | | | | very flavorful but did taste a bit of oak. When |
| price. | | | | paired with whipped cream cheese, it picked up |
| Wine Reviewed | | | | and tasted of dark cherries. I added some |
| L. A. Cetto Petite Sirah 2007 12.5% alcohol about | | | | smoked salmon and the wine continued to pick up. |
| $10 | | | | Final verdict. I don't think that I will buy this wine |
| Let's start by quoting the marketing materials. | | | | again. I just can't agree with the rave reviews. As |
| Tasting Note: You can't beat the value of this | | | | a bit of added trivia, this Mexican winery is the |
| wine: you simply won't find a better wine for the | | | | world's largest producer of the famous Italian |
| money. Juicy, round and ripe with aromas of black | | | | grape Nebbiolo, outside of Italy. If I can ever get |
| plums, black raspberry and vanilla smoke. Food | | | | my hands on such a bottle I will give it a try. |
| matches: spicy black bean dishes, | | | | |