Press


Reviews


July 2016


2014 COASTVIEW VINEYARD CHARDONNAY 92 points
2014 ALFARO VINEYARD PINOT NOIR 92 points
2014 COASTVIEW VINEYARD PINOT NOIR 94 points
2014 LESTER VINEYARD PINOT NOIR 90+ points
2014 SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS SYRAH 91+ points
2013 COASTVIEW VINEYARD SYRAH 93 points
2013 RATTLESNAKE ROCK SYRAH 92 points
2013 OLD CORRAL SYRAH 92 points
2013 ODEON SYRAH/CABERNET 93+ points
2014 HOMESTEAD 91 points
2013 GABILAN MOUNTAINS GSM 93 points


2014 COASTVIEW VINEYARD CHARDONNAY 92 points:
“The 2014 Chardonnay Coastview Vineyard is very pretty. Nuanced and layered, the 2014 offers a striking combination of richness and oiliness with no excess weight. Pear, yellow orchard fruit, wild flowers and chamomile shape the textured finish. This 2014 is very nicely done.”

2014 ALFARO VINEYARD PINOT NOIR 92 points:
“Big Basin’s 2014 Pinot Noir Alfaro Family Vineyard is striking in its precision and nuance. Brisk, saline and tense in style, the 2014 shows the more mid-weight style of the vintage. The 2014 was done with 100% whole clusters that are nicely integrated. Next to the 2015, the 2014 is less fleshy but more focused and tightly wound. Readers should plan on cellaring the 2014 for at least a year or two.”

2014 COASTVIEW VINEYARD PINOT NOIR 94 points:
“The 2014 Pinot Noir Coastview Vineyard is understated, classy and polished. Specifically, the 2014 is endowed with a superb length and overall persistence, with beams of underlying salinity that extend the finish. White pepper, chalk, cranberry and sweet floral notes are nicely delineated. The new oak and whole clusters are evident, but lie in the background, while the wine’s intense salinity is very much front and center. This is a terrific showing from Big Basin.”

2014 LESTER VINEYARD PINOT NOIR 90+ points:
“The 2014 Pinot Noir Lester Family Vineyard has come together nicely over the last year. Bright, sculpted and energetic, the 2014 offers lovely aromatics and fine balance. Readers should cellar the 2014 for at least a year, as it is tightly wound today. Bright red cherry, red plum, chalk and white pepper linger on the close.”

2014 SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS SYRAH 91+ points:
“One of the highlights in this range, the 2014 Syrah (Santa Cruz Mountains) is striking. Tightly wound yet wonderfully persistent on the palate, today, the fruit is a bit hidden between the acidity and tannin, but there is so much to look forward to. Blue and purplish-hued fruits, licorice, smoke and lavender are nicely delineated, but the 2014 is mostly about energy and texture. This is a terrific appellation-level Syrah from BIg Basin. Relatively short aging in barrel (11 months) helps keep the flavors bright.”

2013 COASTVIEW VINEYARD SYRAH 93 points:
“The 2013 Syrah Coastview Vineyard is dark, fleshy and succulent. Even so, it is a fairly intense wine that needs time to fully come together. Smoke, tobacco, leather, licorice and game open up in a big, ample Syrah endowed with real personality.”

2013 RATTLESNAKE ROCK SYRAH 92 points:
“The 2013 Syrah Rattlesnake Rock comes across a bit clunky, perhaps because of the greater use of new oak, but hopefully that will sort itself out during aging because there is good fleshiness and depth throughout. Black stone fruits, bittersweet chocolate, spice and leather are all pushed forward.”

2013 OLD CORRAL SYRAH 92 points:
“The 2013 Syrah Old Corral is another powerful and intense wine from Big Basin. The more brooding, virile side of Syrah comes through loud and clear. A host of game, smoke, incense, licorice and tobacco wrap around the deep, dark fruit. There is plenty to like, that much is obvious. This is another beautifully crafted wine from Bradley Brown and Big Basin.”

2013 ODEON 93+ points:
“Always one of my personal favorites, the 2013 Odeon, Big Basin’s Syrah/Cabernet Sauvignon blend, is a standout. Graphite, smoke, bittersweet chocolate, black cherry, plum and menthol all open up nicely in the glass. Beams of supporting tannin sustain the deeply expressive, chalky finish. There is a lot to like here, especially the luxurious, deep fruit. A dollop of Viognier rounds out the blend. This is a gorgeous showing from Big Basin.”

2014 HOMESTEAD 91 points:
“The 2014 Homestead, Big Basin’s Mourvèdre-based blend, is one of the more understated wines in the range. Bright red cherry and plum fruit, along with scents of white flowers and mint give the wine its delicate, mid-weight personality. This is an especially perfumed, bright red that brings together Mourvèdre along with dollops of Grenache, Carignane, Syrah and Cabernet that round out the blend.”

2013 GABILAN MOUNTAINS GSM 93 points:
“The 2013 GSM Gabilan Mountain is just as impressive from bottle as it was from barrel, if not moreso. The higher percentage of Syrah in this vintage adds mid-palate richness and creaminess. This is a slightly riper style than is the norm at Big Basin these days, but all the elements are very nicely balanced throughout.”