I know, I know, these wines need to age, this was premature, I was jumping the gun, etc, etc. But, I had no choice. I need to clear my “cellar” before moving.
2005 Edmunds St. John Bassetti Vineyard San Luis Obispo County Syrah
This is lovely and showed much better than I feared. Deep dark beefy meaty fruit, with those porky syrah notes, salt, flowers… Constantly changing flavors, but always with fresh lift, tannins in balance, so lively, so deep. This is a winner and I would definitely buy more to save. If I had a cellar that is.
2003 Edmunds St. John Bassetti Vineyard San Luis Obispo County Syrah
This shows a little easier right now, the fruit is showing richer, warmer, maybe slightly softer than the 05, but, this is very well-framed and not at all a soft wine. With air, more and more fruit and structure emerge. The nose is expressive and friendly, although perhaps a touch more in the Southern Rhone register compared to the dark and stony “Northern Rhone-ish” 05. At least at this point in time. And of course both wines are really all about CA. Also, as gorgeous as the nose is, the palate seems to need more time to develop. Woe is he who has no more of these for the future, it shows more and more and more of itself with air.
