Hug Cellars

Bassetti Vineyard is tucked into the coastal hills west of Paso Robles, just three miles from the Pacific Ocean. Ellis Bassetti wanted to plant a Syrah vineyard, but people told him that his family ranch was too cold for wine grapes. Rhone specialist John Alban thought otherwise. With Alban’s guidance, Bassetti started planting the vineyard in 1998. Yields are low and the harvest is late because of the cool climate. Bassetti produces some Syrah under his own label and also sells to a few wineries, including Hug Cellars.

The grapes for this wine come from a vineyard block that’s fairly flat, with black clay soils. It’s a stunning Syrah: quite dark and concentrated, with flavors of blackberry, smoked meat and white pepper. The wine, which is priced at $45, is still very tight, with firm structure and excellent balance. I’d give it at least a few more years in the bottle. Otherwise, open it well ahead of time, decant it to give it some air, and drink it with some grilled tri-tip or other hearty meat dish.

Reviewed June 12, 2007 by Laurie Daniel.