Cycles Gladiator Petite Sirah 2012 Wine Review

Cycles Gladiator Petite Sirah 2012

Lodi (California), United States

Community Score:92/100

Community Reviews: 2

Add My Review

Price: $18.95

Drink: Now

Alcohol: 14%

Sweetness: Dry

Wine Type: Red Wine

Add New Vintage

Reviews and Ratings

Dale Schierbeck rated this wine as 92/100 with the following review:

Here's a grape that I quite adore for its huge body and rich taste: petite sirah (aka "Durif" outside California and Israel). If you like a wine that will grab you by the ears and hold your attention, this bold, fruit forward Californian will do just that as it launches in your mouth with big ripe blackberries.

While some might say it is full with blueberries, I’d counter the taste for me is truly Saskatoon berries because of the dry, tannic finish … it is a distinct taste which I quite frankly can’t describe with any other words than Saskatoon berries. (Try to explain the taste of a Saskatoon to someone who hasn’t tasted one.) In the middle, there is some milk chocolate and cinnamon and a peppery ending rich with alcohol which makes it a great accompaniment to most rich, red meats like beef or lamb ... or duck!

I can’t say I’m ever “pressed” to find something to pair with duck. So, when I decided to make Ben his birthday dinner this weekend and marry it with a sour-cherry sauce, I knew immediately that this new bottle of wine was going to pair well.

Indeed, the tannins along with the richness and fruit of the wine made it an amazing companion to duck magret, a duck that is otherwise raised for the richness of its liver (i.e. foie gras) and which I served with semi-sweet sour-cherry sauce. Oooh-la-la … now those are birds of a feather meant to go together!

Drink it now or cellar it for a few more years. It pairs well with food right out of the bottle ... but for a big-red sipper, I suggest you let it breathe for an hour or so.

If you liked the Cycles Gladiator Petite Sirah 2012, you might also like these wines:

Update details for this wine
Add bottle and/or label shots for this wine
Wineries and agents: Add notes for this wine
Find this wine in other stores

Recipes for Cycles Gladiator Petite Sirah 2012

Click here for recipes

WANT TO LEARN HOW TO

PAIR WINE
& FOOD?

Join me in a free online video class to learn the secrets to perfect pairings.

SAVE MY SEAT!

Wine of the Week

As featured on

John Glaetzer Red Wine
Cabernet Sauvignon 2018,
Langhorne Creek, South Australia ...

Natalie MacLean

Natalie MacLean offers North America's most popular online wine and food pairing classes. She was named the World's Best Drinks Writer at the World Food Media Awards in Australia.

Natalie has published two books with Random House, both selected as one of Amazon's Best Books of the Year.

Join 327,130 thirsty wine lovers who get access to all of her wine reviews by becoming a member of her site. Take a free online pairing class with her here.

FEEL LOST IN THE

LCBO?

Know the wines you want before you even get to the store with my wine reviews. Join now. It's free.

Red, White & Drunk All Over

Best Books of the Year

Natalie MacLean writes about wine with a sensuous obsession... and often laugh-out-loud funny... Terrific.

Rex Pickett, Sideways

Ms. MacLean is the disarming Everywoman. She loves wine, loves drinking ... ultimately, it's a winning formula.

Eric Asimov, The New York Times

GOT A SMARTPHONE?

Access my reviews on mobile with the bar code scanner.

GET NAT'S APP

Unquenchable: A Tipsy Search

Best Books of the Year

Natalie MacLean is a new force in the wine writing world ‐ a feisty North American answer to Hugh Johnson and Jancis Robinson. She can write beautifully about wine.

The Financial Times of London

There are very few people in the wine world who "get it" and Natalie is one of those who brings more fun to a buttoned-up and stodgy game.

Gary Vaynerchuck, Wine Library TV

Starting a Wine Cellar?

Expert advice for all budgets

From wine racks to underground caves, insider tips on size and space, number of bottles, ideal conditions and reputable resources. learn more

Welcome Back!Sign in here:

Not Registered?Become one of our thirsty clan 327,130 strong:

Cycles Gladiator Petite Sirah 2012 Wine Review