Who's afraid of the 05 ESJ Bassetti?

R

Rahsaan

Rahsaan
I seem to remember lots of recent posts about how the 2005 ESJ Bassetti Syrah is still extremely young, difficult, and needs lots more cellar time. Well I've had two bottles in recent weeks and both were dark, plush, rich, vibrant and almost velvety wines, with nothing difficult about them. Delightful delightful times. Even without air they showed well.

Now I'm sure there is lots more evolution ahead and I plan to save the rest of my bottles for as long as I can resist, but that's just a matter of taste preferences as I would be hard pressed to say it objectively needs more age. No fierce tannins, acids, or disjointedness as can happen with an in-between stage Wylie-Fenaughty. Any other recent experiences?

That said, a recent bottle of the 03 Bassetti was pruney and not fun. I'm hoping that is a stage (or a bad bottle), but that doesn't seem likely?
 
Interesting and good to hear. It was pretty shut down about 2 years ago and I decided to let the rest of mine sit for a while. Maybe I'll try and dig one out.
 
Yes. It made me tempted to see how the 05 WF was doing as well, and I might have done so last night if we didn't already have enough wine open.

The Bassetti is definitely young and not very developed, yet it is a very comfortable drink. Although still plenty rich (at least in comparison to my usual drinking. I've had some Beckman and Ojai syrahs recently that reminded me exactly how much further out on the spectrum things can go) and all things considered I'm sure I'll like the Bassetti more as it further mellows.
 
Good to hear about this wine, Rahsaan. I'll probably still give it a few more years before broaching my first, but I'll do so with less trepidation now.

Mark Lipton
 
My wine stocks are pretty limited, so I need all of the help I can get keeping my hands off the single bottle of 2005 W-F I have stashed in the basement. Must. Stay. Strong.

Cheers,

Kevin
 
originally posted by Rahsaan:
That said, a recent bottle of the 03 Bassetti was pruney and not fun. I'm hoping that is a stage (or a bad bottle), but that doesn't seem likely?
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After posting, a little birdie reminded me that several of the 03 ESJs had been showing ripeness beyond our usual enjoyment levels, vintage character and all. But another bottle of the 03 Bassetti tonight had no prunes whatsoever. Deep firm dark fruit and plenty of structure. Deliciously brooding over its future.

Just for the record.
 
In October of 2003, almost Hallowe'en, as the Bassetti from that vintage was dripping through the press cycles, I remember having the thought, as I tasted it, that this wine would probably not finish its developmental ascent while I was still breathing. I'd never had that thought before, about any wine. In more recent years, I've felt that same way about the '05, though that wine currently shows a greater degree of integration than the '03, but I believe it also has more depth.
I got a chance to taste the 1990 Ridge Montebello about 10 days ago, when I was invited to dinner at Chez Panisse by a visiting wine fanatic from Hong Kong, and that wine struck me as one that might well out live me, too. As it happened I'd brought along a '92 Grand Heritage Syrah that gave a similar impression. As someone once said: "Time passes slowly, up here in the mountains..."
 
originally posted by Steve Edmunds: In more recent years, I've felt that same way about the '05, though that wine currently shows a greater degree of integration than the '03, but I believe it also has more depth.
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That has been my experience as well over the past few weeks. The future will be interesting. (As it often is).
 
Oh and for Steve, as a winemaker I would guess there's a difference between making a wine that will outlive you and a wine that most likely will not see 'peak drinking'/maturity until after you are gone. I suppose it's inevitable if one keeps making long-lived wines until late in life, but the latter must be a bit weird to experience.
 
originally posted by Rahsaan:
Oh and for Steve, as a winemaker I would guess there's a difference between making a wine that will outlive you and a wine that most likely will not see 'peak drinking'/maturity until after you are gone. I suppose it's inevitable if one keeps making long-lived wines until late in life, but the latter must be a bit weird to experience.
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Nothing says immortality like Huet!
 
originally posted by Steve Edmunds:
As it happened I'd brought along a '92 Grand Heritage Syrah that gave a similar impression.
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Still the greatest California Syrah I've ever had. And I've had more than my share of California Syrah.
 
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