11 Jun Please The Palate Wine of the Week: JMC Cellars 2021 Peloursin, Ripkin Vineyard, Lodi

There’s a good chance you’ve never heard of this grape. Peloursin, a grape offering tannin, depth, and color, is the humble parent of Petite Sirah, a grape that has earned plenty of praise for its bold, inky character. While some grapes stay more in the background and are more often found in blends, when they do come out into the spotlight, they shine. That is definitely the case with the JMC Cellars 2021 Peloursin from the Ripkin Vineyard in Lodi, the Please The Palate wine of the week.

About Peloursin

Peloursin is a red grape variety that hails from the Isère region of southeastern France, near the Alps. Peloursin is known for its deep color, sturdy tannins, and disease resistance. It was most often used in blends rather than as a single-varietal wine. And in the late 19th century, French botanist François Durif crossed Peloursin with Syrah to create Petite Sirah (also known as Durif). Over time, Peloursin fell out of favor in France, and today, very little remains. Today, small pockets of Peloursin can be found in southern France, California and Victoria, Australia. In California, there are more than 11,000 acres of Petite Sirah planted (according to the California Acreage Report) but there is so little Peloursin planted that it is lumped into the “Other Red Wine” category. That said, there is Peloursin planted in the Ripken Vineyard in Lodi, where JMC Cellars gets their fruit.

Peloursin is a low-yielding and cold-resistant variety. Its berries are very small and darkly pigmented. Its clusters are compact, a trait that Petite Sirah inherited. In blends, Peloursin adds tannin, depth and color to wines along with a dark, brooding quality. On its own, it can produce deeply colored wines with firm structure and dark fruit character.

About JMC Cellars

Located in the Livermore Valley, JMC Cellars was established by Jessica Carroll in late 2023. Jessica always had the dream to have her own winery and when the winery she was working for closed, she was presented with an opportunity to start her own project. Jessica is a self-described wine nerd who enjoys a wide range of wines. As a result, she makes a diverse selection. She gets traditional varieties, such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, as well as Syrah, Malbec, Sangiovese, Nebbiolo, and Roussanne from Livermore Valley. She sources Pinot Noir and Riesling from Monterey. And for her lesser known varieties, like Teroldego, Grignolino, and Peloursin, she turns to Lodi. And Ripkin Vineyard is a perfect place to find these grapes.

Ripken Vineyards & Winery grows mostly non-traditional varieties, including Marsanne, Roussanne, Viognier, Malbec, Petite Sirah, Carménère, Petit Verdot, Alicante Bouschet, Tempranillo, Graciano, Souzao, Touriga National, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Montepulciano, Barbera, Dolcetto, Corvina, and of course, Peloursin.

Tasting Notes

The wine is a deep rich red, almost purple, color. On the nose, the wine offers beautiful dark fruit aromas of black cherry, black raspberry, and blackberry. The dark fruit continues onto the palate. Despite the deep color and rich nose, the wine is medium-bodied with good structure, fresh acidity, and a smooth long finish.

Food Pairing

Since Peloursin tends to offer deep color, firm tannins, and dark fruit character, it pairs wonderfully with a range of hearty, flavorful dishes. The heartiness of braised short ribs will be a perfect match. The bold tannins will complement the rich flavors of a grilled steak. I made porcini pasta and loved how the creaminess and heartiness of the mushrooms paired with the structure and complexity of the wine.

And since I did not drink the entire bottle in one night, I enjoyed the wine the next night with a cheese board with Aged Gouda and Manchego. The richness of these cheeses was a good match with the tannic structure of the wine.

Where To Purchase

The JMC Cellars 2021 Pelousin, Ripkin Vineyard, Lodi retails for $38 and can be purchased directly from JMC Cellars.

Meet The Winemaker

Meet Jessica Carroll and get to know her in 30 questions on the Wine Soundtrack USA podcast.