Community Tasting Notes 6

• andrewstevenson.com wrote: 99 points

  February 4, 2018 - A multi-grape blend, including syrah, merlot, carignan, petite sirah, zinfandel and mourvedre, bottle in May 2000.
  Decanted off considerable sediment, having been left to stand for a few weeks to settle.
  And what a sensual pleasure decanting it was as the room filled with glorious, scented blackcurrant and blackberry aromas.
  Attractive bright, fairly mature light garnet colour.
  Gorgeous nose: in the glass, the blackcurrant that was so evident on decanting has almost completely receded, as has all the fruit-forward character. Quite a claretty feel to the nose. Poised, elegant black fruit and cigar boxes, but then there's a touch of black olive and of garrigue, with some violet and rose florality.
  Feeling a little more mature on the palate than the appearance and the nose. But how glorious is this? Elegant, balanced. Lovely fruit with a restraint one would scarcely associate with California. There's a direct, bright streak of fresh fruit and acidity, balanced by richness and all enveloped in some cossetting , gentle, soft tannic structure.
  This is just wonderful.
  Inevitably, one so wishes this was not one's only remaining bottle.
  It's difficult not to sum up this bottle, with the text on the side label: "The object of Pleiades Old Vines is to be delicious, delight the jaded and go well with anything red wine goes well with."
  Where I would disagree with the label is the suggestion that it needs "a year or two of bottle age" to develop subtlety and complexity. Seventeen years will bring it to the exceptionally nice place where it currently finds itself.
  
  If this isn't my Wine of the Year, I am so looking forward to what discovering what will beat it.

  Comment

• jkndogwine wrote: 88 points

  February 1, 2015 - Such a unique wine. Worth a taste

  Comment

• Loren Sonkin wrote: 88 points

  November 9, 2014 - An evening with friends and a lot of wine (Chris and Renee's Home): I brought this from my cellar. Its part of a collection of older wines, bought years ago, that were not expensive to see how they would age. This is a NV I think labeled as IX. The current release I see is labeled XXIII, so do the math (or alphabet). It is past prime, but certainly held up and makes for nice drinking. It is better on the nose than the palate. The nose has an earthy funk with black raspberries and some meatiness. On the palate, there is some black raspberry fruit, but it tastes a bit dried and bit tart. Certainly drinking fine and not worth dumping. A visit later in the night showed no real change.

  Comment

• richiemagnier wrote: 88 points

  September 13, 2012 - Quite mature, developing port characteristics but still very enjoyable. Oscillates between rich, sweet, mentholated fruit and some more gamey characteristics. Past its peak so drink up!

  Comment

• xtian wrote: 88 points

  May 24, 2010 - Delightful smooth blend for easy quaffing but not overly complex or layered. Definitely a mid-week table wine and something I would likely purchase again.

  Comment

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Wine Definition

• Vintage N.V.
• Type Red
• Producer Sean Thackrey
• Varietal Red Blend
• Designation Pleiades IX Old Vines
• Vineyard n/a
• Country USA
• Region California
• SubRegion n/a
• Appellation California

Community Holdings

• Pending Delivery 6 (7%)
• In Cellars 44 (51%)
• Consumed 36 (42%)

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