- NV Sean Thackrey Pleiades XXVI Old Vines - USA, California (7/12/2025)
I have written a lot of words about the Thackrey Pleiades over the years. Last night, as I was taking my first sips from the glass it finally all came together - this is, in the best possible sense - American Côtes du Rhône. It’s not exclusively Rhône grapes, probably not even majority Rhône grapes, but it carries that dusty, brushy, windswept character, along with a complete crushability that is facilitated by the blissfully moderate (13.1%) alcohol.
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I’ve always loved this wine for what it is. Served it at my daughter’s Bat Mitzvah 15 years ago and got a lot of converts. Haven’t had as vintage since Sean died, though
So this is maybe about five-six years old best guess? If so, a really nice showing.
Just a touch older - 7 or 8. Hard to be exactly certain.
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Awesome!! For some reason, I’ve never tried one of these!! Will have to change that sometime 
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We’re on XXXI in Portland now, and we were pouring XXIX last October at a tasting at my shop, if that helps at all w/ the timeline. Definitely seems like the span between releases has grown swifter, but that could also could just be the nature of time and getting older.
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No more real Pleiades anymore.
I’ve always loved these but are hard to come by in my area.
Are you saying the wines are not the same since he died? Got to be hard to keep wines like his the same when he is no longer involved.
Even if they weren’t (and I haven’t had a post Sean version) they would not feel the same. He was one of a kind in many ways.
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540 Bottles of Thackrey available on Benchmark.
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My favorite was the 1992 Marsdon Petite Sirah Doomed Vines (they were being pulled after the vintage). My favorite label, not my favorite wine
I bought off of his first offer and all the wines have been solid
other than that no connection with the seller.
LAST CALL: Pleiades, Sirius & Orion (last few bottles)
Hello, everyone. These are the last of Sean’s wines that will ever be available. There are only a handful of bottles remaining, so if you were thinking about these from last week, now would be the time to secure some. I’ll highlight the remaining bottles below:
PLEIADES Old Vines: These hand-crafted reds are Sean’s homage to the Southern Rhône—and beyond—each release is a unique and enigmatic blend of Syrah, Barbera, Mourvèdre, Grenache, Sangiovese, Viognier, Zinfandel, Pinot Noir and… well, we may never really know… They’re all delicious, complicated, unique, un-definable and mysterious (if you’ve ever had a 25+ year old wine, you’ll understand what I mean by “mysterious”). You’ll find your own flavors in each of course, we tasted a range of dried cherry, juicy raspberry and blackberry, clove and savory spices, tea leaves and earthy tobacco—with a toasty, nutty thing going on… All of them are unique:
· Pleiades VII : Bottled May 1998. $40. 10 BOTTLES REMAINING.
· Pleiades XVI : Bottled January 2008. $40. 8 BOTTLES REMAINING.
· Pleiades XVII : Bottled February 2009. $40. 91 points from Robert Parker. 2 BOTTLES REMAINING.
SIRIUS Petite Sirah Eaglepoint Ranch Mendocino: Sean’s approach to Petite Sirah has won praise at the highest levels. Robert Parker: “as good as Petite Sirah gets in California… has a terrific track record of aging for 20-30 or more years.” Jeb Dunnuck: “as elegant as Petite Sirah gets… this will be incredibly long lived”. Eaglepoint Ranch is one of the most beautiful ranches and vineyards in Mendocino County, and the original winemaking home of sparkling-wine pioneer and chocolate-maker John Scharffenberger—as well as source back in the day for Fetzer, Parducci and Navarro. The high-elevation climate and unique soil is ideal for producing intense and profoundly rich Petite Sirah fruit:
· 2006 SIRIUS: Still big and complex, with lots of earthy, juicy fruit—especially focused on red cherry and dark plum. The tannins are velvety and thoroughly integrated after almost 20 years. Still very pure and intriguing. 95+ points from Robert Parker: “a lavish, extravagant flavor profile”. $90. 10 BOTTLES REMAINING.
· 2010 SIRIUS: Very dark, complex and expressive with loads of personality. It opens with dynamic ripe aromas of black raspberry and wild plum, violet and mint—which lead onto a silky rich palate of all sorts of dark berries, savory black cherry, earthy truffle and dark chocolate—with fine sweet tannins on the long, lingering finish. 92 points in Vinous, 92 points & Cellar Selection in Wine Enthusiast, and 92+ points from Stephen Tanzer: “Concentrated, dense and sweet, with excellent energy”. $110. 4 BOTTLES REMAINING.
· 2014 SIRIUS: From a terrific vintage. This was the darkest and probably most intense of the three—but these aged reds will really taste different to each individual. Still rich and mouth-coating, with loads of flavor, focused on dark wild berries, sweet tobacco, garrigue, raspberry and plum. $90. 2 BOTTLES REMAINING.
ORION California Native Red Wine Rossi Vineyard St. Helena 2014 MAGNUMS: Dark, fabulously rich and complex, beautifully balanced between plush still very fresh dark fruits and savory elegance. 95 points from Jeb Dunnuck: “A brilliant bottle of wine… has the density, length, and class to evolve for 15+ years”. 94 points from Stephen Tanzer, 93 points & Editor’s Choice from Wine Enthusiast. When renowned wine critic Stephen Tanzer did a complete retrospective of the Orion wines, he wrote: “Of all of the cult wines of California, Sean Thackrey’s singular Orion bottling is right at the top of my personal list.” Made with select fruit from the Very Old Vines of the Rossi Vineyard, one of the oldest vineyards in Napa Valley, its heritage vines were planted in 1905. This distinctive field blend includes at least 11 varietals each vintage, and is aged in custom-made Sirugue and François Frères barrels which Sean appreciated for the way they allowed the fruit to truly harmonize without a “woody” influence. And like the great wines of Burgundy and Châteauneuf, Sean created wines for the future—respecting the wildness and intrigue inherent in these Century Vines to reveal rather than tame their individuality: “Rather than beat my wines up and make them polite when they’re young, I’d rather that they became civilized with age.” $300. 3 MAGNUMS REMAINING.
OK, there you go! You can call or text me directly at 707-431-4256, or reply here via email.
CAN’T TAKE DELIVERY RIGHT NOW? Not a problem. We can always hold any wine for you, temperature-controlled, at no additional cost, until you’re ready.
On behalf of Sean Thackrey, Wine · Maker and his family.
ENJOY!
David Rosen
Pleiades XXV mags on sale for 50% off and free shipping on three. Of course they won’t ship to my state, one day perhaps.