Props to Bradley Brown for coming down to the OC to show us his wines. We last did this same kind of event with Bradley in 2013 so roughly two years apart, the wine style is showing change. The way he talks about his wines and what he is trying to do, the changes for me are now most evident in the pinots. Before I comment on those, let me make a comment about the rhone reds. I do like the Rattlesnake and will buy some of the '11 once I can get an email off to order it. Great stuff and continues to be a wine I enjoy, especially the '11. I did also like the Coastview syrah, again the '11. As to the grenache, my palate is just not in the place anymore where I want to drink higher ABV reds, which these wines showed to me. I do know many people like grenache and continue to drink it, with what seems higher ABVs. Those wines are not for me and to heck with whatever the critics say about them, and their scores. I suspect in time Bradley will dial in the grenache and they may evolve more to what I like, not what I will ever tell others YOU should like.
As for the pinots, WHAM! Putting all the angst and hand-wringing aside that is part of the IPOB discussion and the polarized opinions, Bradley is intrigued and involved with this line of pinot making and it is showing in his wines. Beautiful are these '13 pinots and if the IPOB influence, or the winemakers influence on the message (maybe both) can create changes in the way pinot is expressed, than I am all for it. These Big Basin '13 pinots are damn good, especially the Alfaro and Woodruff. Lots of whole cluster, acidity, red fruits–all the things that really fire me up about what CA pinot noir does for MY palate. Does that mean I am right, or Bradley is right, or the IPOB cadre of wineries is right? Again, with the grenache, it will come down to what YOU like, not what we are told to follow. But, if you follow the wines I enjoy, my notes and MY own impression of what works for me, than these '13 pinots below are in that same highway of enjoyment. Take that FWIW, but I will buy the Big Basin '13 pinots, no question–we just need them to be released in the next year.
Thank you all for coming last night, for Bradley too in making it down and letting us see where he is headed, Great time.
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BIG BASIN IN THE OC–DINNER WITH BRADLEY BROWN PART 2 - My House (6/26/2015)
Bubbly with Chicken Spring Rolls
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NV Varnier-Fanniere Champagne Cuvée Saint-Denis - France, Champagne, Avize, Champagne
I found lots of lemon peel and bread dough in this bottling. Seemed a bit rambunctious for me, a little all over the place. -
NV Paul Dethune Champagne Brut Rosé - France, Champagne, Ambonnay, Champagne
Dang, I love this Dethune. Killer for $35 and I need to go get the rest of it from Envoyer. Strawberry, pure zesty fruit, lovely and even.
Pinot Noir with Empanadas from Maro in Laguna Beach
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2013 Big Basin Vineyards Pinot Noir Alfaro Family Vineyard - USA, California, San Francisco Bay, Santa Cruz Mountains
Oh lord, is this good. Presented with the other '13 BB PNs. While the 1’3 Woodruff was strong, this for me edged that wine out. 12.4% ABV, FWIW. Crunchy, zesty (reminding me of the '11 vintage qualities–not Big Basin but in general, what I like best about the '11 vintage and the best pinots from it. A zesty quality). Stuffed with red fruits of strawberry and raspberry, spice and rose petal, along with terrific acidity. It’s easy to spot wines that are top of class when they are in the glass–there is a something-ness about them, all taken together, that make them stand apart. This is in that class. As I sat with it, and Bradley was seated next to me, I told him this reminded me a lot of the Rhys Bearwallow, which is in that same class. Just amazing stuff. -
2013 Big Basin Vineyards Pinot Noir Lester Family Vineyard - USA, California, San Francisco Bay, Santa Cruz Mountains
Of all the BB 13 PNs we had in the 2 flights, this was the most undefined. The higher whole cluster here does show, too. Has a fuller palate, more black fruit, but in the black cherry realm, not blackberry (which I really dislike in PN and if that was here, I’d say it). Tension in the wine, lots of coil and a crushed rock powder tannin in the finish. Of all the BB 13s, this will need more time to be approachable. -
2013 Big Basin Vineyards Pinot Noir Woodruff Family Vineyard - USA, California, San Francisco Bay, Santa Cruz Mountains
Dynamite stuff. Damn near as good as the 13 BB Alfaro. This is juicy, with a wollop of bright cherry, vibrant acidity and a light tone of watermelon. Finishes with a minerally, earthy/soily note. Where the Alfaro suggests Anderson Valley like fruit, this is more burgundian in tone. Wonderful stuff. -
2014 Big Basin Vineyards Pinot Noir Coast Grade Vineyard - USA, California, San Francisco Bay, Santa Cruz Mountains
This was a barrel sample but since it was presented with the '13 BB PNs, I figured I would add it to the database and include a TN. This wine is still rough for me, lacking of course for this stage any of the finished polish of the 13s (putting vintage aside). Seems riper to me than the 13s, carrying with it a roaster fruit quality. We’ll have to see where this settles out and probably not fair to judge it, in light of the beauty of the '13 BB PNs that preceded it.
Syrah with BBQ meats from the grill
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2010 Big Basin Vineyards Syrah Rattlesnake Rock - USA, California, San Francisco Bay, Santa Cruz Mountains
Floral, blue fruited, pure with solid acidity. No appearance of any dark/black fruit, just really expressive and delicious. -
2011 Big Basin Vineyards Syrah Rattlesnake Rock - USA, California, San Francisco Bay, Santa Cruz Mountains
Ah-ha! This has the '11 vintage signature all over it, and what makes it more obvious that the vintage stamped itself to this '11 is that we tasted the '10 right next to it. The '11 shows that distinct vintage quality of lower ABV, savory with herb and noticeable pepper. Reminds me a lot of Wind Gap. I’m buying some of this '11 and laying it down for a few years. Excellent expression of Rattlesnake. -
2006 Big Basin Vineyards Mandala - USA, California, San Francisco Bay, Santa Cruz Mountains
Andrew slipped this in blind to the Rattlesnake flight (2010 and 2011). We didn’t tell Bradley what it was but he made a few guesses and got damn close to guessing it. Interesting expression of wine here. Shows a bit tart, with some green olive, juicy darker fruit and remarkably still tannic and youthful. Will age a lot longer, I believe. Was outclassed by the '11 Rattlesnake tonight.
Grenache with Cheese and Charcuterie from Whole Foods
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2011 Big Basin Vineyards Syrah Coastview Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Monterey County
For an '11 vintage wine, this showed a riper tone, almost '12-like in color and fruit profile. Dark, tarry with iron. Juicy, dark blueberry and black olive, too. Very good and interestingly bigger toned than I’d expect for an '11. -
2012 Big Basin Vineyards Syrah Coastview Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Monterey County
Tasted next to the '11, and for my palate, the '11 beat this wine. The '12 is a bit too ripe in tone for me, and it throws a light heat note in the aromatic. Has the roasted, dark fruit quality of the riper vintage and also shows more tannin than the '11. Just a bigger version and so depending on what your palate chases, you decide. For me, it’s the '11. -
2012 Big Basin Vineyards Grenache Coastview Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Monterey County
Shows the vintage for me, a riper more throttled version of grenache IMO. Raspberry fruited, with lots of acidity, juicy like grenache should be and spicy. Some strawberry jam makes it into the finish but in total, just a bit big for me. Still trying to understand grenache and whether I will find a liking to it in the CA versions. -
2012 Big Basin Vineyards Grizzly - USA, California, San Francisco Bay, Santa Cruz Mountains
Like the '12 BB Coastview grenache, this Grizzly is just a bit big for my fragile tastes. It has the same spicy, red fruit driven aspects of the Coastview, with a similar heat note in the aromatic, too. Look, I know people will like this wine, yet I simply have a different palate these days and I don’t go after or nuzzle up with wines that are richer.
Posted from CellarTracker
