Community Tasting Notes 7

• VlgJeff wrote: 92 points

  May 30, 2023 - Based on our previous TN some 5 months ago, we slo-oxed this bottle for 20 minutes as well. The color was a bit darker, and the nose had distinct notes of cocoa along with the dark fruit. Once again, the medium bodied palate showed an assortment of red, blue and black fruits, along with cocoa, spice and earth. The acidity was balancing and all the tannins were resolved. A slightly better showing than our previous bottle.

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• VlgJeff wrote: 91 points

  December 30, 2022 - Slo-oxed for 20 minutes to allow the wine to come alive. The color was a medium plus violet to a faded rim. Lots of dark fruits on the nose. The medium bodied palate showed a bowl of purple fruits: red from the Grenache (56%), blue from the Syrah (39%) and some black from the Mourvedre (15%). These were joined by lots of spice, some earth and some minerality. The tannins were resolved, and the acidity was up to the job of balancing everything.
  This wine was probably a strong, in-your-face wine in its younger days - and is still a wine with presence now - but is showing its age and will be best enjoyed in the next year or so.

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• Fractalage wrote:

  April 5, 2021 - You know, I hate vanilla in my wine. Why? Just why...
  
  But, since this bottle was in my closet, and I had drained all the other 6 cases, yep, people have accused me of being a wino, but I disagree, I'm a wineyes, I was looking at what to open tonight, the NCAA Basketball Final night, the Easter Monday night, now, I'm not Canadian, Aussi or a Brit or anything like that, but any excuse to open something good will do for me, and I'm not a respecter of countries as I feel all beliefs and celebrations are valid, so, here I am in the middle of this massive run-on sentence, for which all my grammar nazi friends will murder me, but what the hey, since I'm on this roll, why not keep it going, right?
  (Whew, big breath!)
  
  Basically, this wine is not bad. It's really good. It's just tainted with vanilla and new oak spices, something not uncommon for Bradley Brown in 2012, so I'm enjoying the real. I'm enjoying the spices. I'm enjoying the balance of acid and fruit that plays out, but still... that vanilla. Yuchhe, but oh well. It was either this or Sake, or my one bottle of white wine from Massa Vecchia, that Italian unicorn of Vermentino that I'm not in the mood for. I don't think I'm ever in the mood for that, but one day will come! I promise! I will open that rarity and really enjoy with a friend who loves that sort.
  
  If you love spicy oak bombs then this is the one for you.
  
  DKN

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• DBdeParis Likes this wine:

  November 24, 2020 - This wine is in a great place. Balance, structure and flavors all on point. Personally I'd drink these in the next year or two to enjoy the bright spice and fine tannins.

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• aero wrote:

  December 3, 2016 - Raspberries, blueberries, peppered with herbs, and forest floor. Length for days, perhaps a 40 count. Good.

  Comment

Pro Reviews 3

Wine Definition

• Vintage 2012
• Type Red
• Producer Big Basin Vineyards
• Varietal Grenache Blend
• Designation Grenache/Syrah/Mourvedre
• Vineyard Gabilan Mountain
• Country USA
• Region California
• SubRegion Central Coast
• Appellation Monterey County

Community Holdings

• Pending Delivery 0 (0%)
• In Cellars 29 (18%)
• Consumed 134 (82%)

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