|
 e
got an email from our friend Bob Lenz
a few weeks ago that read as follows: "I'm trying to put together a
little Thackrey tasting sometime over the holidays. My intent,
other that just drinking great wine, is to open a Sangio &
Petite Sirah to see what quantities of these need to be purchased.
Of course we'll have an Orion or two to round out the theme."
 We
like invitations like these almost as much as we like
Sean Thackrey's
wines, and we really like Sean Thackrey's wines. There's something
perversely delightful (or is it delightfully perverse?) about stuff like
this, made with antiquated methods that fly in the face of accepted
(antiseptic) modern practices, and yet still tastes so damned good!
So we showed up at Bob and Kristen's at the appointed time with
offerings of food and wine, joining others in attendance, such as fellow Gangster
Putnam Weekley,
Mike and
Darla Rowley, Jeff and
Linda Bryngelson and
Brad Cook.
We wasted no time getting right to the wines, which were enjoyed with a
variety of hors d' oeuvres, including home made thin crust pizzas, lamb
sausages, various cheeses, crackers and goat cheese and garlic confit.
1995-96 Sean Thackrey Roussanne Alban Vineyard, $45:
Apparently, Mr. Thackrey couldn't get his hands on enough of either
vintage to make a go of it, so he combined both to come up
with this limited bottling. Medium gold in color, it's really showing its maturity, and
in a nice way. The aromatics reminded me of nothing so much as soft
mahogany, and Putnam remarked that it smells like a mature dessert wine.
The slightly maderized flavors echo and expand, giving up something
resembling earthy caramelized peach with hints of quince and starfruit.
A note of oak that was more prominent a few years ago has taken a back
seat, or maybe it's stashed in the trunk; whatever the case, it's only
just discernable. Everything is kept moving along nicely with zippy
acidity, and the wine finishes fairly long. When we
first tasted it in Toledo, I wondered whether it was worth
the money, and after tasting it this time, I can say that it certainly
is/was. It would be interesting to taste along side one of the Chave
Hermitage Blancs from the same time period, but alas, this was our last
bottle.
|
Photo: Kim Adams
Kristen and Bob Lenz |
Sean Thackrey Pleiades XI Old Vines, $18, 14.3% alc.: Much darker
than the
last one we noted, this opaque purple garnet kitchen sink, catch -
all - varietal blend continues to show
better than the more recent XII and XIII models, in my not so humble
opinion, with tar, thyme, bacon and a little bit o' the barnyard over
deep, dark, ripe black plum and blackberry. Like the proverbial iron
fist in a velvet glove, this is quite dense, and has the big fruit and
structure to take this a good ways down the road, but it's so good now,
it's really hard to keep hands off, which is why there's none left in
the cellar from heck. Tasted twice in five days with consistent
impressions.
 2000
Sean Thackrey Centaur Mendocino Sangiovese Eaglepoint Ranch, $36: This
dark garnet has toned down some since we
tasted it last February; in fact, Kim found it to be a little short
and flat at first, but that may have had something to do with the fact
that it followed on the heels of the Pleiades. It shows a nice
blackberry and black cherry personality, with a little earth and old
oak, along with hints of tobacco and sage as it opens. Tannins make
themselves known mainly on the finish, where they clamp down, leaving a
peppery sensation. By the last sip, this opens nicely, so decant it for
an hour now, or let it rest for another few years.
2001 Sean Thackrey Sirius Old Vines Mendocino Petite Sirah Eaglepoint Ranch,
$45,
14.7% alc.: The first Thackrey Sirius since 1992, this one is an
inky black hole of color, and it's all about intense, concentrated black
plum and blackberry, with a perfect kiss of oak and very little in the
way of earth or tar; it's big, rich and juicy, with remarkably pure
fruit, if not that much complexity right now. Despite its considerable
size, it's very approachable, with excellent balance and structure, and
while it's already delicious, it will be so much better in another five
years and more. Petite Sirah has no business being this good so early in
its development. Tasted twice in five weeks with consistent impressions.
 1997
Sean Thackrey Orion Old Vines Rossi Vineyard, 13.9% alc.: Still a
dark garnet, with nary a hint of brick, this has mellowed considerably
since we
tried it at Toledo 3; it shows lovely aromatics of dark plum,
dark berries, the requisite eucalyptus and just the right kiss of oak.
These follow through beautifully on the palate with moderate tannins,
balanced acidity and a long, somewhat earthy finish. The wine opens and
evolves continously in the glass, becoming ever more beguiling; a wine to linger
over, a wine to meditate upon.
Not having any Thackrey wines, Putnam brought along a few reds that he
thought might compare favorably, which were, in fact, quite nice. The
first was what I like to refer to as a "breakfast wine;" it's all toast,
coffee, bacon and herbs. The notes are Putnam's.
 2000
Chateau de la Negly l'Ancely, 14.5% alc.: A bit of a speed bump
after the Cali reds, more herbal; celery (Kim) is obvious at first.
Later it succumbs to stacks of barn - cured tarragon, tobacco and basil;
this is the ornamentation. As far as substance and gravity, there are
loads of bacon, coffee (geo) and toasted carbohydrates. The tannins are
a non - factor; acidity is open, almost overripe. Brandied cherries,
mocha, husky, branchy spices... fennel... (sausage?).
I found the second of the two Neglys to be big upfront, but it seemed to
lose a little something on the backside; again, Putnam's notes:
2000 Chateau de la Negly La Port du Ciel, 14.5% alc.: Juniper,
rosemary, and pine delineate more mountainous, magnificent but just as
impacted herbs as the l'Ancely. Cheval Blanc - like roasted spinach,
weighty, liquefied black rocks, charred Spanish sweet cured meats, sweet
walnuts, maple...
|
Photo: Michael Rowley
Would you buy a used car from these characters? |
Not bad fare for a Monday night, eh? Most named the Orion as at least
one of their Wines of the Night, if not the out - and - out favorite, while
Putnam gave the nod to the Pleiades. There were a few other nice bottles
opened as well, but I didn't note them, as I seemed to be a glass behind
everyone all night and had to scramble for a few quick sips before we
took our leave. Needless to say, everyone got plenty of data points on
which to base their buying strategy, so the evening was a success in
that regard.
Siriusly, it was great to get together with old friends, and to
meet new friends whom we'll be seeing again soon. Many thanks to
Bob and Kristen for hosting the tasting and opening some fine
wines from the
Famous Winemaker; likewise to those who attended for their
contributions and good cheer.
Click here for a good SFGate article on Sean Thackrey.
 Reporting from Day-twah,
Bastardo
|
