Crystal Basin Cellars

Crystal Basin Cellars

Renegade El Dorado Red Blend

Tall and straight heavy bottle. Looks kinda cool. CA wine style. 14.0% abv. No specifics on the blend. They say it arose from the wrong hose in the wrong tank ;-). Color is ruby red with a translucent shimmer. Smells like some other red wines in that it’s fruit and the smell of old places. (Like attics, cellars and libraries full of old books). Hint of savor. Like fresh steak or lamb. Flavors are excellent. Supple and fairly elegant. There’s a cherry streak, a black licorice streak, and brightness. It’s pretty Italian styled. I’d suggest there might be some Sangiovese and/or Barbera in it. And these are excellent CA Foothill grapes, so no surprise at its finesse and grace. This is a nice El Dorado red. I’d love to try the rest of their portfolio.

Website says, “…it’s a 4 way blend of Zinfandel, Grenache, Merlot and Mourvedre that will make your Tuesday night glass of wine Exciting Again.”
— 6 days ago

Douglas and Daniel liked this

Big Basin Vineyards

Howard Family Vineyard Chardonnay 2019

Nose: elegant pineapple. White flowers.

Palate: big acid hit. Elegant yellow fruit. Delicious. Peach.

Long juicy finish.
— 4 months ago

Big Basin Vineyards

Wirz Vineyard Riesling 2020

I hope to find the best central coast Riesling this is winning right now edging out Rexfords SLH Riesling and a few other Monterey ones — 7 months ago

Ray liked this

Big Basin Vineyards

Frenchie's Ranch Syrah 2007

Santa Cruz! Frenchie finally relaxed. A rare evolved CA Syrah showing secondaries. — 9 days ago

Tom, Steve and 5 others liked this

Salvestrin

Le Blanc Crystal Springs Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2022

Decisions decisions… Both very comparable styles. Salvestrin is a St Helena Suav Blanc with fruit derived from the foothills and elaborated by a female winemaker, it’s got great balance and composure. Very elegant on the palate, it has this sublime honeysuckle component somewhere in the mid palate. — 3 months ago

Ted, Peter and 9 others liked this

Big Basin Vineyards

Pinot Noir Old Corral Estate Vineyard 2019

Nose: cranberry. Pink roses.

Palate: cranberry. Pink roses. Juicy. Taut.

Very geeky.
— 4 months ago

Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (DRC)

La Tâche Pinot Noir 2001

Garnet core , quite wide bricking terracotta rim . Quite Subtle on the nose , red fruits , orange rind , sous bois , spice , violets . On the palate very refined , crystal clear red fruits , raspberry , cherry , touch of black currant , black tea , pin point acidity , very fine tannins . Very long and complex. Drinking well though will go on for ages still and certainly improve over the next 10-15 years. — 2 years ago

Ira, Bob and 9 others liked this

Big Basin Vineyards

Gabilan Mountains GSM 2019

Proportionally, this shows up in the opposite order. It is 39% Mourvèdre, 33% Grenache and 28% Syrah. I’m just gonna say now it is exceptional. Its choreography of meaty Mourvèdre, elegant Grenache and peppery Syrah is elite. Ethereal but grounded on the palate, lifting but textured. Licorice skips through the red flowers and black plums. It is more meaty on the nose, more fruit-forward on the palate, and truly balanced and supple. I love it. — 2 months ago

Bob, Matt and 5 others liked this
Neil Valenzuela

Neil Valenzuela

Great wine!

Big Basin Vineyards

Homestead Red Rhone Blend 2019

Mostly Grenache with Mourvèdre, Carignan, and Syrah from cool sites throughout the Santa Cruz Mountains. Pure, fruit forward, and borderline jammy without being over the top. Alcohol clocks in at 13.5%. Pair with suckling pig. Organic. — 3 months ago

Tom, Andrew and 1 other liked this

Big Basin Vineyards

Homestead Block Roussanne 2017

Terrific domestic Roussanne grown in the Santa Cruz mountains from this great producer. 190 cases. 13.2% ABV — 6 months ago

Eric, Austin and 17 others liked this