2012 Big Basin Vineyards Syrah Coastview Vineyard

Community Tasting Notes (17) Avg Score: 91.8 points

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  11/16/2023 - VlgJeff Likes this wine: 92 Points

  This wine consistently benefits from at least a medium (30 - 45 minutes) decant which allows the wine to open and integrate, as well as the separation of some sediment.
  Lots of dark fruits and spice along with some earth and a touch of black pepper, wrapped in a lush mouthfeel. The acidity was quite lively but balancing and any tannins were integrated. This wine should continue to hold.

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  3/5/2021 - Fractalage Likes this wine: 96 Points

  Don't normally rate wines, but this one deserves this 96.
  
  Fantastic texture, density, complexity: So much going on.
  
  Opened another bottle because the one from yesterday was so good.
  
  Lush deep berry with tars, flowers, licorice, blackness with that core of vanilla that is somewhat muted by the rest, but works.
  
  Just delish with spices, long and enjoyable.
  
  Initially on the palate it's tart with cherry and some white berry such as gooseberry, then turns to sweet candy that evolves into black licorice with tars and spices of exotic cakes and bite that keeps going.
  
  Well done!
  
  If you're familiar with Clarendon Hills, this fits right up there with that sort of quality.

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  3/4/2021 - Fractalage Likes this wine:

  Rested upright in my closet for 3 months.
  Decanted off sediment, but even with that rest the sediment started to show with 1/4 bottle left.
  This wine was massive, huge and reminiscent of a good McLaren vale. That Viognier is obvious and really makes the wine complete. Just an excellent example of what a genius intuitive can do with excellent Gabilan Mt. fruit.
  I love that Bradley put all the harvest and vineyard info on the back label.
  Of all his 2012, in my experience and opinion this is Big Basin’s best. The oak is obvious but compliments in a way that this is a Mahler of a symphony: I don't really like Mahler, but he is master of his craft, and that, I can a very much appreciate.
  Initially this had a nose of plastic, deep black berry, sweet vanilla, meats and flowers. It was a kaleidoscope of complexity, pulled out so much over the hours such as cocoa, tobacco, licorice, baking herbs such as cinnamon, touches of cardamom with minty texture. It was delish, and juicy. Its herbs and licorice were obviously present and so enjoyable. At times it tasted like candy, one of those yummy panda licorice chews, something low sugar yet strong with flavor. Tars and flowers yet completely massive and spicy.
  
  I can’t see how this wine could not be loved by all: Those who like real, those who like the big, those who like complex.
  
  This is Bradley at his finest, taking advantage of this fantastic terroir.
  
  Took another sip and really connecting to that comment that it’s like a panda licorice chew. Seriously, it’s bitter, with tars, loads of herbs and licorice, yet sweet, but not too sweet. Just fabulous. I’m not selling these remaining bottles!
  
  Ha. Good luck finding this gem from a genius winemaker in the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA.
  
  Antonio Galloni is right about this producer and this AVA.
  I hike these mountains every week and they are absolutely gorgeous! I am so blessed to be here and blessed to connect to the deep rocks that comprise this geologically speaking, recent uprising of soil. I’m always impressed and its diversity on each hike as I go from sea level to the 2300 ft above so see the strata, the levels. There’s a huge core of serpentine deep in the center. Study the benefits of what that mineral provides on a metaphysical level and you can see a touch of what’s going on here.
  
  Those of your who are reading this and have never been to the Bay Area, deserve to at least make the trip to experience the Santa Cruz Mountains. Stop by Big Basin and say hi to Bradley and buy 20 cases of his very rare juice. He is a grape intuitive and genius with his craft.
  God blessed his vineyard this last summer sparing most of his vines and his wine facility!

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  1/25/2021 - Rose Garden Likes this wine: 89 Points

  Still has some tannins, blueberry, blackberry. An unbelievably good wine after an hour decanting

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  11/7/2020 - Fractalage Likes this wine:

  Great quality.
  Served double decanted at a party and everyone agreed that this was the star over Ridge and Arbalest.
  The Viognier rocked it.
  Great balance. Incredible nose. This was very St. Joseph.
  Lot's going on. Much of that dumb oak was faded, but still there, yet the delish dark fruit and vibrant Viognier really brought it all to an excellent balance.

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