I love Sean Thackrey and his wines. This is one of the most interesting wines I have had this year. It is a NV assemblage of Barbera, Syrah, Carignane, Mourvedre, Petite Syrah, Viognier and more. Very complex, lots of personality, character, round and layered with great depth. A California wine with some old world characteristics that becomes more approachable with decanting — and the wine does show better the day after opening.
There are elements of this wine that seem like they are 8-12 years old — but I also would not hesitate to put this down for a 4-6 years or more given how well it holds up over the course of more than 24 hours. Very provocative, distinctive, memorable — and is truly a wine that needs to be experienced. Nice notes of cherry, eucalyptus and pomegranate with some herbaceousness, graphite and leather.
There will be those that will not feel as strongly about this wine — but for me, it is a lot of wine for about $20 and I really enjoyed it. A great pairing for lamb, veal or duck.
Strongly recommended — and you really should know more about the man behind the wine. Sean Thackrey really makes nice wines and an interesting story as well. Read more about Sean Thackrey.
[...] sent out to his mailing list and thought I would post it here as you might want to pick up some Pleiades XVI. He says he will not be making that again for a while, but It sounds like he has some other [...]
[...] also retired his Pleiades Old Vine Red — at least for the time being — so Pleiades XVI is the last release, at least for a [...]
[...] Creek Côtes de Tablas Rouge 2006 Domaine des 2 Anes, Premiers Pas 2005 Pierre Laplace Madiran 2005 Sean Thackrey Pleiades XV Old Vines Red Domaine de la Vieille Julienne Côtes du Rhône 2004 Domaine Guion Bourgueil Cuvee Domaine 2006 [...]
[...] Related post Sean Thackrey Pleiades XV Old Vines Red [...]
Sean Thackery is the greatest mastermind in wine-making.. Pleiades XVIII or its predecessors will not ever be recreated (Unless they still have it in barrels?) Anyways, its a mix of different grapes (not always the same mix) that ripened at different points and have different sugar and acid levels… But
Keep your eyes open, Pleiades XIX will hit the shelf real soon!!