Community Tasting Notes 12

• Gustavo Brambila Likes this wine: 89 points

  February 28, 2016 - Time to drink up. No need to wait.

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• dlduchon wrote: 89 points

  September 22, 2015 - for a Cali Rhone blend this is a user friendly style and a lot of fun to drink. I generally like a leaner style but this wine was enjoyable with some back end grip to keep it in check. It is big and easy.

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• DaveZack Likes this wine: 92 points

  July 27, 2014 - The bouquet on this wine is mostly oak and earth, with slight suggestions of dark fruit and savory herbs.
  
  This wine pours DARK (almost black), which isn't too surprising considering it's varietal make-up (61% Syrah, 23% Petite Sirah, 16% Grenache). It's also a very rich, creamy, spicy, delicious red blend, which is pretty typical for The Big Easy (we've been wine club members since 2007 and I don't think any of The Big Easy's I've tasted have ever scored under 90 points).
  
  Sure enough, the wine is typically dark-fruited and heavily herbed/spiced. There's an abundance of dark fruits (plums, blackberries, black cherries, along with secondary red fruits of bing cherries and raspberries), along with several tons of black pepper and savory herbs like thyme, rosemary, and sage. There's also the PERFECT amount of oak, earth, acidity, smooth/silky tannins, along with a smooth, creamy, and VERY lingering finish.
  
  If you like rich, creamy, fruity, earthy, spicy, perfectly-oaked red blends, this beauty from Santa Barbara County is ALWAYS reliable and consistently good/great. I paired this wine with homemade hamburgers with caramelized onions and mushrooms; this Southern Rhone blend was a fantastic accompaniment for the burgers and would also pair well with a well-spiced steak, prime rib, lamb (racks, chops, shanks, etc.). Bottom line: this wine would pair gorgeously with any/all red meat dishes.
  
  At almost five years post-harvest, it's still showing considerable youth. It's drinking beautifully right now and should continue to age/mature beautifully for another five to ten years (maybe more?). This wine is a PERFECT example why Fess Parker was the first wine club we joined back in 2007. Their whites and reds are always (at worst) good, if not sometimes fantastic. And The Big Easy is ALWAYS very good to fantastic. If you have a bottle of this beauty, drink it now or let it continue to age/mature elegantly/beautifully for another five-plus years. VERY yummy and delicious!!!!

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• dolce0404 Likes this wine: 92 points

  March 11, 2014 - Excellent Syrah blend. Deep ruby color, rich in body and texture. Dominant flavor profiles are blackberry, black cherry, vanilla (on the finish), pepper, and dark chocolate. Highly recommend.

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• Zoomin Z Likes this wine: 90 points

  November 11, 2013 - Big fruit bomb, well made and easy to drink. Red currant jam with some wet earthiness and a little spices hidden behind the gobs of fruit.
  Substantial body of delicious red fruits and substantial heat. Great with pot roast, if you are in the mood for sweet fruits.

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Pro Reviews 1

Wine Definition

• Vintage 2009
• Type Red
• Producer Fess Parker
• Varietal Red Blend
• Designation The Big Easy
• Vineyard n/a
• Country USA
• Region California
• SubRegion Central Coast
• Appellation Santa Barbara County
• UPC Code 718038556320

Community Holdings

• Pending Delivery 0 (0%)
• In Cellars 70 (26%)
• Consumed 199 (74%)

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