I. Brand & Family: “What we do is simple, without artifice, and we enjoy it.”

I needed a Grenache for my wine class a few weeks ago and found this I. Brand & Family blend in our wine room.

I wrote about I. Brand & Family previously in this post:  https://decantingmonterey.com/ian-brand-discovering-great-vineyards-at-the-edge-of-sensible-farming/ with reviews of some of his P’tit Paysan and La Marea lines.  To add to that is this statement from I. Brand & Family:  “We are not in “wine country” nor do we have trophy wineries. This is farm land, desolate hills, and solitude. What we do is simple, without artifice, and we enjoy it.”

Today I am bringing you one of their wines from the Chalone AVA, which I introduced you to last week here:  https://decantingmonterey.com/cima-collina-transitioning-from-san-antonio-to-the-chalone-ava/. The I. Brand & Family label represents their higher end wines. 

About Chalone Vineyard: “Perched in the remote Gavilan Mountain Range, 1,800 feet above California’s Salinas Valley, this rugged vineyard sits at the base of an extinct volcano bordering the Pinnacles National Park. Chalone Vineyard is one of the few wineries in the U.S. growing grapes in limestone-based soils, the same as in Burgundy…”

2018 I. Brand & Family Grenache/Syrah, Chalone Vineyard, Chalone AVA, Monterey County, 13.6% ABV, $42 (#151*)  72% Grenache, 28% Syrah

My Review: Transluscent cherry in color.  Sweet warm berries on the nose with a big burst of raspberry and cherry on the palate, yet light and refreshing, with subtle tannins enveloped in light caramel on the finish. A little SweeTart with a toasted marshmallow finish. September 2020

I Brand is open for outside porch tastings by reservation only – email them at HELLO@IBRANDWINERY.COM to order wines or reserve a tasting. 

*Refers to wines tasted while sheltering in Place on Sharon’s personal Facebook group “Sharon’s Central Coast (Monterey) Wine Blog” – including non-Central Coast wines.

© Decanting Monterey 2020