Corti Brothers Newsletter for February 2008   Page 5   

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Loison Veneziana Classica Dome Shaped, Sugar Bead and Slivered Almond Glaze. Wrapped. (#2065) $20.29

Loison Focaccia Mandorlata Dome Shaped, Fruitless, Slivered Almonds. Wrapped. (#2066) $19.39

Petite Sirah in California is enigmatic. It is not Syrah and has been in California for more than 110 years. Its proper name is Durif, after the name of the man who crossed it. It is a cross of Syrah and Peloursin. At one time, the variety was known for its dark color and fierce tannin. In some areas of California, namely Clarksburg, just south of Sacramento in the Sacramento River Delta, Petite Sirah grows very well and is remarkably less fierce than elsewhere in California. In Clarksburg, it is positively charming with a very deep color, succulent aroma of ripe berries and generally a rich smooth flavor. If anything, it may be a bit short in the finish, but then no grape is perfect.

Ehrhardt is the name of an old time farming family in Clarksburg who have produced this 2003 Petite Sirah which is positively delicious, especially at this time of the year. If your notion of a delicious wintertime wine is one that literally reeks of ripe wild blackberries, Ehrhardt Petite Sirah 2003 is for you.

This variety is also one that does not need a great long time aging. Stock of the 2003 vintage, which is just coming to an end, should be tasted just to show you what a lovely example of the varietal is. Do not dally, since the supply is short.

Erhardt Petite Sirah Wine 2003, Clarksburg 14.1% 750ml (#2067) $19.99

It is amazing to me how far Americans, well, some Americans, have come with using hot pepper to spice their cooking. Remember when it was difficult to find a bottle of Tabasco sauce? Dried chiles? Well now, there are many and varied spices to spice up your cooking. A lot come from Mexico, Latin and South America. But even more come from the Arabic speaking countries of North Africa, the Middle East. Further west, in England, a special spice was created.

Americans, it was thought, didn’t like “spicy” food, yet we eat a lot of it. Sometimes spicy, as in hot, is just another term for “macho” and we have found out that some peppers and hot spice mixes really appeal to certain tastes. Tempered, though, these flavors are indeed very attractive. Look at the use of piment d’Esplette from France, pimentón from Spain, the pepperoncini picanti from Italy. Everyone enjoys a bit of spice in his life!

There are several spice mixtures I would like to point out that you may not have tried, but should, just to be acquainted with them because they are very good, very tasty, and certain to liven up your cooking.

Penzeys Aleppo Pepper Seasoning A dried red pepper taking its name from Aleppo in Syria. In flakes, it is medium hot with a very fruity flavor that livens up anything you want to add hot pepper to. From Turkey. 1.9oz jar (#2068) $6.99

Penzeys Balti Seasoning Oddly enough, this is a spice mixture created in Birmingham, England. Its origins are controversial, but has nothing to do with the ethnic group of the same name. In effect, it is a British conceived curry-like spice seasoning. Medium hot. 1.1oz jar (#2069) $5.99

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