The Rhone Report

Issue 10 Nov/Dec 2011

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BIG BASIN VINEYARDS
2008 RATTLESNAKE ROCK SYRAH - 94 points
2008 COASTVIEW VINEYARD SYRAH - 93 points
2008 FRENCHIES RANCH SYRAH - 94 points
2008 ODEON SYRAH/CABERNET - 94 points
2009 HOMESTEAD SYRAH - 91 points

"Located at the top of the Santa Cruz Mountains, these serious wines are made by Bradley Brown and show thrilling levels of fruit and structure. While certainly not shy, they stay balanced and fresh on the palate, and display beautiful purity of fruit. All of the wines benefited from substantial air time and in most cases showed even better on the second day after opening." - Jeb Dunnuck

2008 Rattlesnake Rock Syrah: "One of the more supple vintages for this cuvée, the 2008 Rattlesnake Rock Syrah is a blend of 94% Syrah and 6% Grenache, form incredibly low yields, that's aged in 83% new French oak for 27 months. Yielding a decadent and very rich array of black fruits, charred beef, earth, and smoke, this still manages to hold onto a sense of freshness and lift on the nose. These characteristics carry over to the palate where the wine is full-bodied and beautifully balanced, showing seamless, light texture, gorgeous purity of fruit, and a very long finish. As with the majority of Bradley's '08s, this is approachable with a decant, but should benefit from 1-2 years in the cellar. Given the overall balance and freshness, this should have upwards of 12-15 years of longevity."

2008 Coastview Vineyard Syrah: "A beautiful Syrah that features loads of upfront, slightly gamy blackberry like fruits, spice, crushed rock, graphite, bitter chocolate, and pepper aromatics, the 2008 Coastview Vineyard Syrah spent 27 months in 63% new French oak barrels and is rich, full-bodied, and beautifully textured on the palate. While this is no lightweight and has loads of ripeness and richness, it maintains a light, graceful feel in the mouth, showing admirable freshness and a clean, focused finish. It benefits from a decant and should shine for a decade."

2008 Frenchies Ranch Syrah: "Showing more toast and oak than the Rattlesnake Rock, the 2008 Frenchies Ranch Syrah comes from the same vineyard, but is a cellar selection of the top 3 Syrah barrels. Aged for 27 mohths in all new French oak, this stacked Syrah delivers a thirlling bouquet with deep, rich blackberry and creme de cassis styled fruits, coffee, toasty oak, grilled meats, licorice, and solid underlying minerality. This fleshes out beautifully with air and on the palate, shows a full-bodied, concentrated mouthfeel, impeccable balance, and a seamless, silky texture that carries into the finish. While certainly a big wine that shows its oak elevage currently, it's nevertheless and impressive drink currently with a healthy decan; ideally though, bottles should be given 2-4 years in the cellar, and then consumed over the following decade."

2008 Odeon Syrah/Cabernet: "Very rich and decadent with thrilling amounts of creme de cassis, charred meats, mineral, pencil lead, chocolate, and game, the 2008 Odeon opens up in the glass to show a full-bodied, concentrated profile, beautiful freshness and acidity, and a chewy, structured finish. This spent 27 months in 87% new French oak and while it definitely shows hints of oak elevage, it stay remarkably pure and light on its feet. While I'm not convinced it has the backend structure for extended aging, I see no reason this won't continue to shine for 5-8 years, if not longer."

2009 Homestead Syrah: "Sporting aromas of blackberry and raspberry, toasted spice, graphite, and crushed flowers, this full-bodied, rich blend shows loads of richness and depth, yet remains light and balanced on the palate. Very fresh with a light palate presence, juicy acidity and a clean, long finish, this beauty should continue to shine for 5-6 years or so."

Stephen Tanzer's International
Wine Cellar

Issue 159 Nov/Dec 2011

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BIG BASIN VINEYARDS
2008 RATTLESNAKE ROCK SYRAH - 93 points
2008 COASTVIEW VINEYARD SYRAH - 93 points
2008 FRENCHIES RANCH SYRAH - 93 points
2008 ODEON SYRAH/CABERNET - 92+ points
2009 HOMESTEAD SYRAH - 91 points
2009 COASTVIEW PINOT NOIR - 93 points
2009 LESTER PINOT NOIR - 92 points
2009 ALFARO PINOT NOIR - 92 points
2009 WOODRUFF PINOT NOIR - 93 points

2008 Rattlesnake Rock Syrah: "Opaque ruby. Pungent red and dark berries on the nose, complicated by dried flowers, anise, smoke and cracked pepper. An intensely spicy, focused midweight that offers energetic black raspberry and bitter cherry flavors enlivened by tangy acidity. Impressively pure and lithe syrah with suave finishing florality and lingering spiciness. "

2008 Coastview Vineyard Syrah: "Deep violet color. A sexy, complex bouquet shows an array of black and blue fruits, sandalwood, licorice and candied violet. Sweet, palate-staining blueberry and cherry-cola flavors are lifted by gentle acidity and show a seamless texture. Ripe and fleshy but vibrant, with excellent finishing clarity and resonating spiciness. This wine's blend of power and energy is impressive."

2008 Frenchies Ranch Syrah: "Opaque ruby. An explosively perfumed bouquet displays scents of candied black and blue fruits, incense, vanilla and violet, with an overlay of sexy oak spice (this was raised in 100% new barrels). Supple, sweet and broad, with strikingly deep blackberry and blueberry flavors given spine by zesty acidity. Finishes sweet, spicy and very long, with resonating floral and smoke notes. "

2008 Odeon Syrah/Cabernet: "Saturated ruby. A complex, perfumed bouquet evokes red- and blackcurrant, cherry-vanilla, pipe tobacco and candied flowers. Juicy and precise on entry, then broader in the middle, offering deeply pitched dark fruit flavors and notes of violet and black cardamom. Turns spicier on the finish, which clings with excellent tenacity and length. This wine benefits a lot from aeration. "

2009 Homestead Syrah: "Bright violet color. Black raspberry, cherry and a touch of mint on the fragrant nose. Juicy and taut on entry, then fleshier in the mid-palate, offering fresh red and dark berry flavors and a hint of palate-numbing cracked pepper. Finishes bright and spicy, with very good clarity and smoky persistence."

2009 Coastview Pinot Noir: "Vivid red. Black raspberry and cherry on the highly perfumed, spice-accented nose. Broad, juicy and very precise, with energetic dark berry flavors and notes of spicecake and vanilla. Finishes sweet, smoky and very long, with lingering florality and excellent clarity. This wine was fermented with 15% whole clusters, according to owner/winemaker Bradley Brown. "

2009 Lester Pinot Noir: "Bright ruby-red. Smoky cherry and black raspberry on the nose, with complicating notes of licorice, underbrush and espresso. Sweet, penetrating dark berry flavors show very good depth, with tangy acidity giving the wine good back-end cut. Finishes with very good chewy persistence, the smoke and licorice notes repeating. "

2009 Alfaro Pinot Noir: "Vivid red. Sexy red fruits and Asian spices on the nose, with deeper notes of cola and mocha adding complexity. Sappy and intensely fruity, with very good depth and clarity to its raspberry and cherry compote flavors. The sweet finish shows strong spicy cut. Blends opulence with vivacity and offers plenty of immediate appeal, but this wine is balanced to age. "

2009 Woodruff Pinot Noir: "Vivid red. Highly perfumed, spice-accented bouquet of redcurrant, raspberry and potpourri. Offers vibrant red fruit and floral pastille flavors, silky texture and very good tangy lift. This is pretty suave stuff. Leaves a strong impression of spicy red fruits behind, along with a hint of candied rose. Distinctly elegant pinot with the balance to age. "

ISSUE 196

BIG BASIN VINEYARDS
2008 RATTLESNAKE ROCK SYRAH - 91 points
2008 COASTVIEW VINEYARD SYRAH - 92 points
2008 ODEON SYRAH/CABERNET - 93 points
2008 FRENCHIES RANCH SYRAH - 91 points
2009 HOMESTEAD GRENACHE/SYRAH - 91 points
2009 LESTER FAMILY VINEYARD PINOT - 92 points
2009 COASTVIEW VINEYARD PINOT - 92 points
2009 ALFARO FAMILY VINEYARD PINOT - 93 points
2009 WOODRUFF FAMILY VINEYARD PINOT - 94 points

"Bradley Brown crafts gorgeous artisan wines from his vineyards in the Santa Cruz Mountains and Monterey County. The wines are fermented with ambient yeasts, see no racking and are bottled unfined and unfiltered. The Pinots are aged in 50% new medium toast barrels, while some of the Syrah and Syrah-based blends see higher amounts of new wood. Brown is gradually moving towards reducing toast levels and amounts of new oak. The 2008s are big, rich wines marked by the low yields of the year that are the result of the spring frost. Vintage 2009 was a flashier, more overt year until a heavy rainstorm hit on October 13. The 2009s generally are lower in alcohol than the 2008s. As good as these wines are – and they are often outstanding – my feeling is that Brown has just scratched the surface of his potential." - Antonio Galloni

2008 Rattlesnake Rock: The 2008 Syrah Rattlesnake Rock was made from a parcel planted predominantly with an Alban Cote-Rotie clone, and includes 7% Grenache in this vintage. The late harvest and low yields of the vintage comes across in this big, powerful wine. This is a decidedly lush, super-ripe style. The aromatics appear later, adding complexity and nuance on the mid-palate and finish. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2018.

2008 Coastview: The 2008 Syrah Coastview Vineyard is a plump, juicy wine loaded with dark black and blue fruit. Tar, licorice and violets develop in the glass, leading to a ripe, seductive finish. Brown chose eight of his best barrels from this hillside vineyard for the final blend. The wine was aged for 27 months in 62% new oak barrels. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2018.

2008 Odeon: The 2008 Odeon a blend of 57% Syrah and 43% Cabernet Sauvignon comes across as quite a bit fresher and better balanced than the Grizzly. Sweet herbs, creme de cassis, flowers and spices flow from this opulent, beautifully balanced wine. The presence of the late-ripening Cabernet helped preserve quite a bit of freshness. A final blast of blueberries and blackberries informs the finish. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2018.

2008 Frenchies Ranch: The 2008 Syrah Frenchies’ Ranch is 100% Syrah that spent 27 months in 100% new oak barrels. Frenchies’ is essentially the three best Syrah barrels from Rattlesnake Rock. It shows gorgeous aromatic delineation and layers of sumptuous fruit, with attractive mid-palate pliancy and a multi-dimensional, textured finish. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2020.

2009 Homestead: The 2009 Homestead is 46% Grenache, 43% Syrah and 11% Cabernet Sauvignon, mostly sourced from estate vineyards. This attractive red wine fleshes out nicely in the glass, with compelling dark fruit, sweet spices and flowers. Floral notes reappear on the finish adding brightness and lift. The Homestead is an attractive, fruit-forward offering best enjoyed over the next few years. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2016.

2009 Lester Family Pinot: The 2009 Pinot Noir Lester Family Vineyard shows some of the meatier, gamier elements of Pinot Noir. There is plenty of depth in the fruit to balance some of the wine’s wilder tendencies. The round, sweet finish is nicely layered with expressive floral and spiced notes. The Lester Family Vineyard Pinot is a blend of Clones 37, 667, 115, vinified with 15% stems and aged for 16 months in French oak barrels, 50% new. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2019.

2009 Coastview Pinot: The 2009 Pinot Noir Coastview Vineyard sweeps across the palate with layers of plump, dark fruit. It is an expansive Pinot loaded with personality and class. The Coastview Pinot shows gorgeous textural depth all the way through to the juicy finish. This is the first vintage from a plot originally planted with Syrah. The 2009 was fermented with 30% whole clusters and aged for 16 months in French oak, 50% new. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2019.

2008 Alfaro Pinot: The 2009 Pinot Noir Alfaro Family Vineyard shows gorgeous up-front richness, much of which comes from the Dijon clones. Dark cherries, flowers menthol, licorice and violets come together nicely in this juicy, ripe Pinot. The 2009 was fermented with 10% whole clusters and aged for 16 months in French oak, 50% new. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2019.

2008 Woodruff Pinot: The 2009 Pinot Noir Woodruff Family Vineyard is a subtle, nuanced wine graced with exquisite aromatics, sweet tobacco, red cherries and dried flowers. It possesses gorgeous length supported by clean, mineral notes. I especially like the balance of the wine’s inner perfume, sweetness and persistent saline notes. This elegant, understated Pinot is impressive. The 2009 was fermented with 30% whole clusters and aged for 16 months in French oak, 50% new. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2019.

Stephen Tanzer's International
Wine Cellar

May/June 2011

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BIG BASIN VINEYARDS
2007 RATTLESNAKE ROCK SYRAH - 93 points
2007 COASTVIEW VINEYARD SYRAH - 92 points
2008 MANDALA SYRAH - 90 points
2008 HOMESTEAD SYRAH - 90 points
2008 ALFARO PINOT NOIR - 90 points
2008 WOODRUFF PINOT NOIR - 90+ points

Big Basin has become a consistently reliable source for extroverted but balanced pinots and syrahs that show exotic perfume (lots of whole clusters here) and flamboyant but seldom overblown fruit from low yields. Owner and winemaker Bradley Brown told me he picks late, from cool, high-altitude sites worked organically. He uses only native yeasts, which tend to draw out the fermentations, thus building complexity. - Josh Raynolds

2007 Rattlesnake Rock Syrah: "Inky purple. Sexy, highly perfumed bouquet evokes dark berry preserves, bacon fat, violet and cracked pepper. Very syrah, with spicy black and blue fruit flavors and exotic floral pastille and spicecake qualities. Slow-building tannins add shape to the extremely long, sappy finish, which echoes the blackberry note. "

2007 Coastview Vineyard Syrah: "Glass-staining purple. Highly scented aromas of mulberry, violet and cola are underscored by a smoky element. Deep, fleshy black and blue fruit preserve flavors are firmed by fine-grained tannins and lifted by tangy minerals. Open-knit, juicy and alluringly sweet syrah with excellent finishing clarity and smoky persistence. I like this wine's combination of depth and energy."

2008 Mandala Syrah: "Inky ruby. Singed plum, boysenberry, Indian spices and camphor on the expressive nose. Juicy, spicy and full-bodied, with smoky dark red fruit compote and fruitcake flavors lifted by peppery spices. Rich but lively, with harmonious tannins and a long, gently chewy finish. This could handle full-flavored, grilled foods with ease. "

2008 Homestead Syrah: "Glass-staining ruby. Textbook syrah aromas of dark berries, cherry pit, woodsmoke, olive and game, plus a hint of black pepper. Velvety and broad, with sappy flavors of blackberry, peppery spices and violet. The wine's sweetness provides upfront appeal but dusty tannins on the finish suggest that it will reward patience."

2008 Alfaro Pinot Noir: "Deep red. Musky aromas of raspberry, redcurrant, rose and Asian spices. Fresh and alluringly fruity, with intense red fruit and floral pastille character and a seamless texture. The long, sappy finish features nervy acidity and a lingering note of candied raspberry. This is delicious right now. "

2008 Woodruff Pinot Noir: "Bright ruby. Inviting aromas of raspberry, cherry-cola, five-spice powder and rose. Suave, gently sweet and elegant, with very good mid-palate depth and intense, spice-accented red fruit character. Finishes with silky tannins that add focus and gentle grip. This should be even better with a couple years in the bottle but it also drinks well now. "

ISSUE 192 & 193 (online only)

BIG BASIN VINEYARDS
2007 RATTLESNAKE ROCK SYRAH - 94 points
2007 COASTVIEW VINEYARD SYRAH - 93 points
2007 ODEON SYRAH/CABERNET - 92 points
2008 FAIRVIEW ROAD RANCH SYRAH - 93 points
2008 MANDALA SYRAH - 91 points
2008 ALFARO FAMILY VINEYARD PINOT - 92 points
2008 WOODRUFF FAMILY VINEYARD PINOT - 90 points

"I have consistently enjoyed these wines from Big Basin winery. They are big, beautifully balanced and impeccably well made efforts displaying lots of purity. Sadly, production varies from only 70 cases of the Frenchies, to 300+ cases of the Rattlesnake Rock." - Robert Parker Jr.

2007 Rattlesnake Rock: For drinking over the next decade, the opaque purple-colored 2007 Syrah Rattlesnake Rock is a stunning wine. Aged just over two years in French oak casks, it reveals sweet jus de viande, blackberry, camphor, pepper and forest floor notes. Full-bodied and dense with silky tannins and well-integrated wood, this is a stunning Syrah that should drink nicely for at least a decade.

2007 Coastview: The 2007 Syrah Coastview, made from a high elevation (2,400 feet) site overlooking Monterey Bay, exhibits a dense purple color as well as a tight but promising nose of blackberries, spring flowers, crushed rocks, licorice and charcoal. Deep and full-bodied with stunning richness, a multilayered mouthfeel, and excellent length, this 2007 can be enjoyed over the next 10 years.

Odeon: Big Basin Vineyards has a 2007 Odeon, a blend of 60% Syrah and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon from the Santa Cruz Mountains. The most powerful wine from an alcoholic standpoint (16%), the wine has a dense ruby/purple color and a spicy, earthy nose with some background wood and red and black fruits. Aromatically it’s the least expressive of any of these reds, but that’s made up for when it hits the palate with a silkiness as well as a rare opulence and fleshy mouthfeel. The finish is long and the texture is terrific. This is a wine that seems to impress more in the mouth than the somewhat restrained aromatics might suggest. Big, rich, and hedonistic, this might be the perfect foil for those looking for the ultimate tactile experience with a big red wine. Drink it over the next decade.

Fairview: The 2008 Syrah Fairview Road Ranch is from the Santa Lucia Highlands, an obvious cool-climate site influenced by the fog and strong, cold winds coming off Monterey Bay, which is only five miles away. Sweet vanillin intermixed with creme de cassis, blackberry and spring flowers jump from the glass of this dense purple wine. Full-bodied, rich and multi-dimensional, with loads of fruit, a big, fleshy mouthfeel and a lingering finish, this is a hefty as well as generously endowed Syrah that shows good definition and impressive length. It should drink nicely for up to a decade.

2008 Mandala: Lastly, the 2008 Syrah Mandala is a blend of 88% Syrah, 8% Grenache and 4% Cabernet Sauvignon. Its opaque ruby/purple color is followed by notes of black currants, blackberries, pen ink and a hint of graphite, a deep, full-bodied mouthfeel and a rich, long finish. As always, these are impressive, well-made, concentrated wines meant to hold up to extended cellaring.

2008 Alfaro Pinot: Slightly darker ruby than the Woodruff Family, this wine has sweet clove, black cherry, and pomegranate as well as underbrush notes in the complex aromatics. Broad, flavorful, silky-textured, and opulent, this is a slightly fleshier style, but the winemaking skills of proprietor/winemaker Bradley Brown are in evident in both of these Pinots. It should drink nicely for 5-8 years, perhaps longer.

2008 Woodruff Pinot: From an old Pinot Noir vineyard planted in the late 1980s at a 400-foot elevation, the limited production 2008 Pinot Noir Woodruff Family Vineyard has a medium ruby color and loads of loamy soil notes intermixed with vibrant, bright black cherry, pomegranate, and spice. This soft, plush and already complex wine seems to be on a relatively fast evolutionary track, although Pinot can be surprisingly long-lived due to its balance. This wine has that as well as lots of finesse and complexity. Drink it over the next 5-7 years.

The Rhone Report
November 2010

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BIG BASIN VINEYARDS
2008 MANDALA SYRAH - 93 points
2008 HOMESTEAD SYRAH - 91 points
2008 FAIRVIEW ROAD RANCH SYRAH - 92 points
2007 COASTVIEW VINEYARD SYRAH - 92 points
2007 RATTLESNAKE ROCK SYRAH - 94+ points

"Another stunning lineup of wines by Big Basin's Bradley Brown. His '07s show the structure and depth of the vintage, while the '08s are fleshly and ripe." - Jeb Dunnuck.

2008 Mandala: "A big wine, and a real charmer...the Grenache portion shows on the nose with an up front, sweet bouquet of wild raspberries, licorice, crushed flowers, dusty earth and chocolate ganache like aromas. Full bodied on the palate with notable purity and a round, friendly personality as well as solid concentration and density, this beautifully made wine should drink well for a decade or longer."

2008 Homestead: "Big and up front on the nose with ripe blackberry and raspberry like fruits, toasted spice, roasted game, crushed flowers, and licorice aromatics, this opens up beautifully in the glass, showing notable purity as well as solid underlying minerality. Full bodied, lush and round with a hedonistic texture, good concentration and a focused finish, this is drinking beautifully now, but should easily last for 8 to 10 years."

2008 Fairview: "Much more opulent and round than the '07 from this vineyard, the 2008 sports loads of decadent dark fruits, black pepper, meat, and touches of underlying gamey notes. Plus and medium to full bodied on the palate with a voluptuous full texture, solid underlying structure and a long, fruit filled finish, this seamless, borderline hedonistic beauty should drink well for a decade."

2007 Coastview: "Dark and mineral-laced with a touch more focus than the Fairview Ranch, the 2007 Coastview displays solid Syrah Typicity, with sweet blackberry, pepper, smoked earth, tar, and freshly crushed rock aromas on the nose. These are followed by a medium to full bodied wine that has a voluptuous, yet focused texture, sweet fruit, and a long finish. Delicious now, the purity and balance should allow this to evolve gracefully over the next decade."

2007 Rattlesnake Rock: Drop dead gorgeous the 2007 Rattlesnake Rock Syrah yields deep, rich aromatics of blackberry and raspberry fruits that are interwoven with rusty iron, minerals, dark chocolate and violets. Full bodied and perfectly balanced with a seamless, smooth texture, serious density and concentration and a long, focused and tannic finish. Still tight and compact, this needs 3 to 5 years in the cellar, and then should drink well for a decade or longer after that."

BIG BASIN VINEYARDS
2007 ODEON SYRAH/CABERNET - 93 points
2007 MANDALA SYRAH - 91 points

2007 Odeon: "This has wonderful flavors with a medley of ripe cherry, mocha, toasty oak, espresso bean and black licorice notes that are rich, supple, full-bodied and expansive, ending with a long, flavorful finish. Drink now through 2018." - J.L.

2007 Mandala: "Tight and intense, deep and concentrated without being heavy, offering dried berry, berry pie, anise, black licorice and cedary oak. Gains nuance and finesse on the finish. Drink now through 2017." - J.L.

Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wine
March 2010

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BIG BASIN VINEYARDS
2007 MANDALA SYRAH - 93 points/2 Puffs

"...this hugely expressive bottling include(s) such admirable tidbits as full volume, distinctive blackberry fruit, focused varietal spice notes and an enormously inviting sense of richness that lasts from beginning to end and is carried very well by the wine's mouthfilling palatal impressions."

The Rhone Report
February 2010

__________________

BIG BASIN VINEYARDS
2007 MANDALA SYRAH - 93 points

"The 2007 Big Basin Vineyards Syrah Mandala spends 20 months in 40% new French oak barrels and offers up
stunning cassis and blackberry fruit, smoked meats, graphite and spice notes. This opens up with air and
shows impressive complexity and a perfumed, bright character. The palate is full bodied with lots of sweet, rich
fruit, a lush texture and a long finish. There's ripe tannin on the finish. This drank beautifully over the 3 days I
had the bottle open."

Stephen Tanzer's International
Wine Cellar

Nov/Dec 2009

_______________

BIG BASIN VINEYARDS
2007 FAIRVIEW ROAD RANCH SYRAH - 91+ points
2006 RATTLESNAKE ROCK SYRAH - 91 points
2007 BALD MOUNTAIN PINOT NOIR - 91 points
2006 ALFARO FAMILY PINOT NOIR - 91 points

2007 Fairview Road Ranch Syrah: "Deep ruby-red. Pungent, expressive bouquet displays blackberry, boysenberry, cracked pepper and smoky mineral scents, with nuances of pipe tobacco and herbs adding complexity. Broad and sweet but also spicy, with tangy red and dark berry flavors and a sexy suggestion of candied flowers. Closes down on the finish, with the spice and pepper notes repeating. This benefited from air and should be even better with a few more years of bottle aging."

2006 Syrah Rattlesnake Rock Syrah: "Bright ruby. Exotically perfumed aromas of cherry-cola, five-spice powder, cinnamon, tobacco and smoked meat, with a sexy floral quality gaining strength with air. Deeply concentrated dark berry compote flavors are framed by supple tannins and brightened by Asian spices and minerals. The tannins carry through the finish but don't interfere with the wine's sweet, juicy, very persistent berry qualities. Give this a couple more years in the bottle."

2007 Bald Mountain Pinot: "Vivid red. Powerful aromas of black raspberry, cherry, mace, allspice and minerals. Brighter red berries on the palate, with bitter cherry and spice notes gaining strength with air. Sexy but serious, with impressive clarity and finishing energy and thrust. This very young but extremely promising wine is worthy of cellaring. "

2007 Alfaro Family Pinot: "Dark red. Exotic aromas of black raspberry, Asian spices and incense, with a muskier herbal note lending a serious quality. Broad, fleshy dark berry flavors are given spine by juicy acidity and repeat the spice note on the back end. Alluringly sweet pinot with gentle grip to its long, sappy, spicy finish. This is more open-knit than the Bald Mountain today."

The Rhone Report
November 2009

__________________

BIG BASIN VINEYARDS
2007 FAIRVIEW ROAD RANCH SYRAH - 91 points
2007 SANTA CRUZ/MONTEREY SYRAH - 90 points
2006 RATTLESNAKE ROCK SYRAH - 91-93 points
2005 RATTLESNAKE ROCK SYRAH - 95 points

2007 Fairview Road Ranch Syrah: "The third vintage of this release, the 2007 Big Basin Fairview road Syrah sees 20 months in French oak and exhibits impressive aromatics of raspberry and blackberry fruit, spice, earth and underbrush
that are framed by bitter chocolate and coffee nuances. In the mouth, the wine is medium to full bodied with a soft, mouth filling texture hiding a firm, structured core. The wine tightens up with air and it’s balanced, beautifully fruited and shows nice sappiness to the fruit. Drink this over the next 10
to 12 years."

2007 Santa Cruz/Monterey Syrah: "Just packed with chocolate and coffee aromas, the Big Basin Vineyards Syrah Santa Cruz/Monterey County has decadent and rich cassis and blackberry fruit, spice and graphite notes coming through with air. The wine is medium bodied in the mouth with a smooth, pure texture, excellent precision, rich fruit and solid underlying structure and balance. This finishes well and I’m a fan. Drink this outstanding Syrah over the next 5 to 7 years."

2006 Rattlesnake Rock Syrah: "The 2006 Big Basin Rattlesnake vineyard Syrah is a dense, structured wine with fantastic aromatics of smoked meat, tobacco, dark fruit and striking minerality. The palate is medium to full bodied, rich,
tannic and structured. This needs time."

2005 Rattlesnake Rock Syrah: "Exhibiting a fantastic, northern Rhone like bouquet of smoked bacon, blackberry, black olive and minerals, the 2005 Big Basin Vineyards Syrah Rattlesnake Rock is medium to full bodied with a tight,
precise texture, vibrant acidity, awesome fruit and a long, structured and classy finish. This actually showed best the day after opening so if drinking anytime soon, a healthy decant is recommended. A dead ringer for a top Cote Rôtie and highly recommended!"

Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wine
October 2009

________________

BIG BASIN VINEYARDS
2007 ALFARO FAMILY PINOT - 92 points/2 Puffs
2007 BALD MOUNTAIN PINOT - 87 points/1 Puff

2007 Alfaro Family Vineyard Pinot Noir: "Extract rather than grace is the main theme of this fleshy, well-muscled young Pinot, yet in spite of its proclivities to a mild bit of chocolaty ripeness, the wine is well-filled with keenly defined cherry-like fruit. It is firmed by ample acidity but still shows glimmers of velvet to come, and while it may be just a bit taut at the finish, it never lets go of its very confident fruit. It is a sure bet to grow more attractive over time and could improve for five or more years."

February 2009 Issue

BIG BASIN VINEYARDS
2006 FAIRVIEW RANCH SYRAH - 91 points
2006 RATTLESNAKE ROCK SYRAH - 90 points

2006 Fairview Ranch Syrah: "A big-shouldered syrah with rich, velvety tannins, this shows full-on Santa Lucia Highlands ripeness checked by the fine white pepper and savory smoked meat flavors of a cool-climate zone. It shows more mineral character with air, the texture a silky vehicle for peppery spice and black cherry richness."

2006 Syrah Rattlesnake Rock: "Youthfully primary and juicy at first, this develops meatier, savage scents with air. It carries the coastal, redwood forest coolness of this site near Big Basin State Park. The peppery tannins suggest cellaring it for several years before serving with roast boar."

BIG BASIN VINEYARDS
2005 RATTLESNAKE ROCK SYRAH - 94 points

"Towering, purple, blue and red fruits with bold aromas of currant, chocolate and smoke. The palate is lush berries, black tea and round with some salty nuances to the sun warmed fruit." - Doug Wilder, The Wilder Side of California

BIG BASIN VINEYARDS
2004 RATTLESNAKE ROCK SYRAH - 93 points

"Full of rich and supple aromas of blackberry and tarry violet. The palate is smooth and concentrated. This is a wine that gives immediate enjoyment as well as ability to age." - D. W.

February 2008 Issue

BIG BASIN VINEYARDS
2005 FAIRVIEW RANCH SYRAH - 93 points
2005 RATTLESNAKE ROCK SYRAH - 92 points

2005 Fairview Ranch Syrah: "The scent of mulberries and wild fruit gives this an untamed fell, spicy with crushed green peppercorn and lasting red berry flavors. The soft texture turns voluptuous as the wine takes on air, its structure based more on refreshing acidity than powerful tannin. A sleek red for squab with wild mushrooms."

2005 Syrah Rattlesnake Rock: "Bradley Brown began reclaiming an old vineyard site adjacent to Big Basin in 1998. He planted Rattlesnake Rock in 2000, at an elevation rising to 1,400 feet. Given the native yeast fermentation and the 100 percent new oak used in aging, you can expect the wine to be wild and powerful. It is, in fact, floral and black, with a meatiness to the aroma that one taster described as "blood sausage in a glass." The blueberry fruit is cut by sharp notes of conifer and black pepper, providing a tension to the wine that lasts. Decant it for roast venison or other game. "

ISSUE 172

BIG BASIN VINEYARDS
2005 FAIRVIEW RANCH SYRAH - 92 points
2005 MANDALA SYRAH - 92 points
2004 MANDALA SYRAH - 90 points
2005 RATTLESNAKE ROCK SYRAH - 92 points
2004 RATTLESNAKE ROCK SYRAH - 92 points

"Impressive Syrahs are being fashioned by proprietor Bradley Brown from his Santa Cruz Mountain vineyards. Unfortunately, quantities are limited for these cuvees. The 2004s reveal that vintage's opulence, richness, full-bodied power, and flesh. All the wines are bottled without fining or filtration. The 2004 Syrah Rattlesnake Rock exhibits creamy blackberry, damp earth, spice, meat, and earthy notes. Its seamless integration of acidity, tannin, and lofty alcohol results in a full-bodied, powerful, serious wine that can be drunk now and over the next 12-15 years. Displaying a smoky bacon fat character intermixed with truffle, beef, blackberry, and cassis notes, the 2004 Syrah Mandala is slightly lighter, but still dense, powerful, rich and harmonious. It should drink well for a decade.

The 2005 Syrah Rattlesnake Rock offers up aromas of charcoal, creme de cassis, pepper, and white chocolate. More elegant and restrained than the exuberant, flamboyant 2004, it is reminiscent of a top French Hermitage. Medium to full-bodied with moderately high tannin as well as a richness that builds incrementally in the mouth, this fresh lively, impressive Syrah should age well for 12-15 years. The 2005 Syrah Mandala possesses more intense fruit, not the complexity of the Rattlesnake Rock, but is just as good because of the sweetness, purity, and overall harmony of its elements. With superb purity, an expressive style, and loads of soul and character, it will provide plenty of pleasure over the next 10-12 years. A more cool climate effort is the 2005 Syrah Fairview Ranch from the Santa Lucia Highlands. It reveals a dense ruby/purple color as well as notes of bay leaf, a touch of mint, white chocolate, and plenty of black cherry and currant fruit. Rich, heady, and full-bodied, with less power and exuberance than its Santa Cruz Mountain siblings, this beauty shows impeccable winemaking and style. Drink it over the next decade or more. "

Connoisseurs' Guide to California Wine
July 2008

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BIG BASIN VINEYARDS
2005 RATTLESNAKE ROCK SYRAH - 92 points, Two stars

"Rich, ripe and spicy with a wealth of oak sweetening its way, this broad, mouthfilling Syrah eschews subtlety in favor of power, yet it is not overdone and avoids the pitfalls of uncontrolled ripeness. Its varietal credentials are never in doubt, and, if moderately tannic and very much one for the cellar, it has the depth and overall balance to insure good things ahead in five to ten years."

BIG BASIN VINEYARDS
2005 FAIRVIEW RANCH SYRAH - 93 points
2005 RATTLESNAKE ROCK SYRAH - 92 points
2005 MANDALA SYRAH - 92 points

"This dark ruby 2005 Fairview Ranch Syrah offers aromas of red and black fruit, roasted meat and smoke. On the palate it reveals a sweet lush attack of ripe raspberry and mulberry fruit with notes of garrique and dried herbs. It is beautifully balanced with firm round tannins and a long lasting finish. The Rattlesnake Rock Syrah sourced from a low-yielding vineyard at 1,400 feet, boasts an opaque ruby coloar and scents of raspberry framboise. On the palate it exhibits concentrated pomogranate and raspberry fruit flavors and spicy new French oak notes all elegantly integrated and in perfect balance and harmony. While drinkable now, it will be even better after a year or two of cellaring. The 2005 Mandala, a combination of selected barrels from the Rattlesnake Rock and Fairview Ranch vineyards displays deep ruby color with scents of pomogranate and wild red fruit, meat, leather, smoke and white pepper. Full bodied and highly concentrated on the palate, this complex and opulent wine reveals mouth coating pure red fruit, licorice, rose petals, cigar box and black pepper with soft silky tannins and a long sustained finish. This lovely wine is also showing great balance and finesse. "