"The object of Pleiades Old Vines is to be delicious, delight the jaded, irritate the Wine Police, and generally go well with anything red wine goes well with. This twenty-first edition, bottled in August of 2011, includes Sangiovese, Viognier, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Mourvedre, and Marsanne, to name but a few. Fragrant and voluptuous when first released, it will become far more subtle and complex with age, as of course we all will: but such restraint may just be too much to ask..."
Sean Thackrey is one of the most influential people in the Bay Area Food & Wine community, and has been for nearly three decades. Along with luminaries like Alice Waters and Kermit Lynch, Sean Thackrey is deeply linked to the shaping of food & wine as we know it, and to this day represents many of the best and most ground-breaking practices in our industry.
Since 1980, Sean has been producing wines that are extraordinary not only for great quality and complexity, but also because Sean utilizes unique wine-making techniques, often drawing from historic, sometimes ancient, wine-making practices from all over the world. The results are consistent, as evidenced by Sean’s continued support and enthusiasm from his peers and devoted customers.
Sean sources grapes from many locations throughout California, and makes all his wines by hand–”touching every grape”–at his small Bolinas winery. Self-taught, and fully reliant on his intuition and senses, Sean is the antithesis of corporate wine-making. The proof is in the bottle.
Ratings & Reviews
93 Points & "Editor's Choice" - Wine Enthusiast Magazine (XIX):"With a translucent ruby color and silky texture, this could be a Pinot Noir. But it’s a blend of Sangiovese, Voignier, Mourvèdre and several other varieties, and shows its own unique profile. Dry and crisp, the flavors are fruity, floral, herbal and spicy. Raspberries, cherries, thyme, white pepper, bacon, oregano and smoky sandalwood only begin to describe the complexities. They change by the second in the glass, but always finish dry." — S.H. (6/1/2011) — 93
91 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (XVII):"The non-vintage Pleiades XVII is a kitchen sink blend of Carignane, Barbera, Mourvedre, Syrah, Sangiovese, and a touch of Viognier. To quote him, -It is designed to offend the wine police.- Dark ruby-colored, with a vibrant nose of sweet black cherries, incense, spice box, a bit of pepper and earth, the wine is round, generous, savory, and all that a delicious, seductive, bistro/brasserie red wine should be. It cuts a relatively full, fleshy mouthfeel, but it is vibrant and super-pure, with outstanding ripeness and freshness. Drink it over the next 3-4 years.
One of California's most iconic and mystical winemakers, Sean Thackrey has logged in 20 or more vintages of consistently stunning wines that perhaps say it all with the simple quote on his label: -Sean A. Thackrey, Vintner, Bolinas, California.-" - Robert Parker (8/2009)
Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar:"Medium red. Eccentric aromas of raspberry, eucalyptus, dried basil and nuts. (Note to self: try to figure out a way to describe Sean Thackrey's wines without using the word "idiosyncratic. ") Sweet, exotic and a bit reduced, with a plummy quality and some mellow notes of walnut and old oak. Finishes with sweet, easygoing tannins. Rather like an old-style Southern French wine-Cassis rouge As rustic as this is, there's also a degree of elegance in the wine's sheer smoothness of texture." - Stephen Tanzer (Jan/Feb 05)
