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Sean Thackrey, Napa Valley Syrah Orion, 1988

Red Wine from California, United States
by Sean Thackrey
$119.99
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Orion in its earliest form: from 1986 to 1990 Sean Thackrey made it from Arthur Schmidt's old-vine Syrah near Yountville, a parcel he lost when it was sold to Clarke Swanson, after which the wine moved to the Rossi vineyard in St. Helena from 1992. Thackrey dealt in nineteenth-century European photography before becoming a bonded winemaker in 1981, working out of a eucalyptus grove in Bolinas, and he never made wine the way anyone else did: constellation names, grapes left to rest outside for a day or more, fermentations run under the open sky, a method he traced back to Hesiod's Works and Days. He was also one of the first Americans to champion Syrah. At thirty-eight years old this is fully tertiary and best approached the way you would any old bottle: slow decant off the sediment, and drink it the evening you open it.

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Antonio Galloni

87 points

"Slightly volatile aromas of red fruits and mocha, with a hint of apple that carries through onto the palate. Began with an enticing sweetness but the tannins quickly turned dustier as the wine opened in the glass. Still offers good flavor interest but the slightly sour, dry finish suggests that this wine is in decline." —Stephen Tanzer

Robert Parker

93 points

"As I have stated so many times before, Sean Thackrey's limited production gems are among the most original expressions of winemaking in California. The 1988 Orion builds on the great promise exhibited by earlier efforts. Sensationally rich, but soft enough to be drunk now, this full-bodied, raspberry and herb, peppery-scented wine has layers of fruit, excellent extraction, and an inner core of surprising depth. The tannins are fine and soft rather than aggressive and astringent. Drinkable now, although it still seems essentially unevolved and in its infancy, this wine could well last beyond a decade." —Robert M. Parker, Jr.

More about Sean Thackrey

Wine Details

  • Grape Variety

    Syrah

  • Vintage

    1988

  • Size

    750ml

  • Sweetness

    Dry

  • Body

    Full Bodied

Flatiron's Take

From the Importer

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Tasting Notes & Food Pairings

Perfect Pairings

Slow-roasted lamb shoulder, oxtail, wild mushroom risotto, duck confit, aged alpine cheeses.

Tasting Profile

Dried cherry and fig with leather, pepper, tobacco and damp earth. Medium-bodied now, tannins fully resolved, with gentle acidity and a delicate, savory finish. Condition varies bottle to bottle at this age.

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