2007 Sean Thackrey Orion Red Blend

2007 Sean Thackrey Orion Red Blend
98+ pts (WA) The just bottled 2007 Orion is spectacular. Essentially a clone of the 2006, but seemingly more seamlessly constructed, it will be a future icon of California, and should evolve effortlessly for two decades or more. Robert Parker Wine Advocate # 184 Aug 2009

One of California's most iconic and mystical winemakers, Sean Thackrey has logged in 20 or more vintages of consistently stunning wines that perhaps say it all with the simple quote on his label: -Sean A. Thackrey, Vintner, Bolinas, California.-

It boasts an inky/blue/purple hue as well as a sumptuous perfume of creosote, blueberries, blackberries, graphite, and incense. Superb character and nuance are offered in a full-bodied, powerful, rich yet brilliantly etched style. This beauty should drink well for a decade or more. Robert Parker has called the wines of Sean Thackrey impeccable and riveting, and further states:  As I have stated so many times before, Sean Thackrey's limited production gems are among the most original expressions of winemaking in California. Although the three current releases are all extremely limited in quantity, they are worth the special effort needed to obtain them. If there's one California winery that's farthest in spirit from the manicured order of the typical Napa estate, it's Sean Thackrey's no-frills property in Bolinas. One hour's drive north of San Francisco in western Marin County, and accessible only via a twisting road that ends at the Pacific's edge, Bolinas exudes the mellow isolation of a hippie commune.That apparently works fine for the eccentric, cerebral Thackrey, who's been making wine in a Bolinas eucalyptus grove for more than 20 years. He's best known for two bottlings: the non-vintage Pleiades, a Syrah-based blend that usually contains about six varieties; and his top-of-the-line Orion, a brawny, deeply concentrated red from the 5-acre Rossi Vineyard in St. Helena. This is a California Wine