WTN: Pleiades XIII

Sean Thackrey Pleiades XIII Old Vines (CA)
$25, 14%abv. Bottled June 2004.
Very southern Rhonish aromas of dried rosemary and lavender mixed with dark fruit. What’s most surprising is the seamlessness and balance of this wine. For such a mish-mash of grapes, it’s just wonderfully elegant (although some may find it leaning towards "international"). Rich sweet ripe (not at all jammy) flavor, medium body, and a very silky texture. Slight hints of mocha mix with the fruit on the finish. There is enough structure here that it should age well over the next handful of years.

[Jenise]

International? Hmmm...not how I'd describe it, but then my benchmark for this wine is some of the racier vintages and I can see how a newcomer would pick that up off the XIII. Do you have more? These will reward your patience.

That's "leaning towards" international, not straightout overdone, placeless, over-oaked international. I say this mostly because the wine was borderline too soft, almost too perfectly assembled yet I had trouble differentiating the parts. Maybe that's a vintage trait?
Don't get me wrong, I love the wine and I'm glad I have more. (Which I will take your advice and hold to for a while). I'm even more curious about other vintages now. I never would have bought this without having read your past reviews in the first place and I'm glad I did.