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Sean Thackrey "Pleiades XXII" Old Vine Red Blend

Sean Thackrey "Pleiades XXII" Old Vine Red Blend

92WE
$19.99

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92

Wine Enthusiast

Reviewed May 2013
*Editors' Choice* How many ways can you say delicious? It’s impossible to exaggerate how appealing this light-hearted wine is. It’s vibrant with candied raspberries, pomegranates, orange zest, vanilla, brown sugar and cinnamon spice flavors, yet finishes dry and clean. The blend includes Sangiovese, Viognier, Pinot Noir, Syrah and Mourvèdre.

Staff Reviews

JM
John Majeski

John Majeski

Wine, the gently pressed product of a grape, has left its immeasurable imprint on Western civilization more than perhaps any beverage besides H2O, and it continues to inspire and cultivate the minds and palates of those who both make it and drink it. Sean Thackrey has maintained an animated conversation with the grape for over thirty years, which has led to the creation of wines unique in compass and character, imbued with his own iconoclast vision of what makes a bottled memory. The Pleiades, named for a fat cluster of stars out there, is Thackrey's continued experiment, a nonvintage wonder that plays with a constellation of varieties by inviting them all to the party in your glass. The result is a delightfully prismatic charmer, seductively lithe and savoury at the same time, with flavors suggestive of raspberries and warm baking spice, wild strawberries and pomegranates, inflected with vibrant acidity and an arrestingly complex finish. Pure wine alchemy, altogether quite incomparable.

Notes

If you try to find the exact cepage on this always-fantastic red blend, you might find yourself gazing up at the heavens for an answer, since you won't get one from the winemaker. The Pleiades might be the only super allocated, cult California wine for under $25, and it's sure to sell out quickly, as previous vintages have. From "One of California's most iconic and mystical winemakers," says Robert Parker, "Sean Thackrey has logged in 20 or more vintages of consistently stunning wines that perhaps say it all with the simple quote on his label: -Sean A. Thackrey, Vintner, Bolinas, California." (08/09) The XXII is floral and spicy with the savory herbal notes that have become a hallmark of Thackrey's wines. This is a little fuller on the palate than the last iteration, with a bit more chocolate. The Fruit tends toward kirsch-like cherry and there's an under-pinning faintly reminscent of nutella. Fantastic.

Details

TypeRed Wine
OriginUnited States
Bottle Size750 mL
Alcohol Content14.7%
SKU1107725