WTN: 2001 ESJ Basseti Syrah

[David M. Bueker]

A buddy of mine invited me over & said "bring a syrah." Never one to pass up a blind tasting challenge, I wrapped up the ESJ & headed over. Well, his guess was initially Cote Rotie, and then Chateauneuf. There was a ton of funk initially, but then it blew off to show a meaty, black-fruited, intense yet impeccably balanced rendition of pure syrah fruit. Outstanding. My friend wants to get some. I hope Steve has some '01 left, as I only have 1 bottle left in the cellar, and there is so much to be gained from aging this wine. It has tons of fruit and potential to spare.

Double yummy!

That sure sounds delicious, David. Just got some '03 Basseti today.

[David M. Bueker]

Sure to be so much better in 5 years or so...

Good for you. I had a bottle of this in December and found it quite backwards. And even though it did provide enjoyment with air, it never really sang.

Of course it was cold in the house at the time and it may never have gotten warm enough to sing.

But it does have those fierce notes of "purity" that bode well for the future, mixed in with the brett..

I drank my one '01 Bassetti, way too early. But the '01 CA is nice right now.

[David M. Bueker]

But it does have those fierce notes of "purity" that bode well for the future, mixed in with the brett..

Exactly...pure syrah as delivered by horse!

I had this not so long ago (as did another friend...with similar experiences) and it was pretty funky in the nose. And it did eventually blow off.
But, underneath the funk, it's a pretty solid Syrah and will eventually be one of Steve's best.
The funk didn't strike me as brett...something else.
Yup..that Calif '01 is pretty good drinking these days.
Not to worry if you drunk up all your '01 Bassetti. The '03 (still available) is, IMHO, even better and maybe, just maybe, Steve's greatest Syrah yet.
Tom