The 2008 Alchemist ‘24’ is the most tannic of the extended-barrel aged reds. It is a huge, dramatic wine that sweeps across the palate with layers of dark fruit, grilled herbs, tobacco and French oak. The intensity of the fruit builds towards the explosive finish. Despite its size, the wine shows fabulous balance. The blend is 65% Syrah, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot,10% Tempranillo and 5% Grenache Anticipated maturity: 2012-2020. Eric Jensen left behind a successful career as a concert promoter for a simpler life in Paso Robles, and the wine world is much richer for it. Jensen and his wife Lisa originally bought their property with the intent of growing and selling fruit but quickly caught the bug to make their own wines, which they did starting in 2005. Booker Vineyard is a fascinating property with a number of steep hillside exposures. The Jensens have had some of the best mentors one could hope for, including Justin Smith and Stephan Asseo. I tasted a wide number of wines during my visit, including a handful of the late-release ‘24’ series, which as the name implies, spent 24 months in barrel rather than the more customary 18. Winemaking is quite stripped down to the basics. The wines are fermented with ambient yeasts then go into barrel with their gross lees. Malo is done naturally. The blends are finished post-malo and the wines are bottled with no fining or filtration.Tel. (805) 237-7367; www.bookerwines.com
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