Warm Labor Day weekend called for opening a white wine none of us had yet tried. One of the things I admire about I. Brand wines is his reach in sourcing his grapes. In the case of this wine, he chose a vineyard that is one of my very favorites from the Arroyo Seco AVA.
I have presented Ian Brand’s wines to you in a couple of posts: P’tit Paysan and La Marea lines here: https://decantingmonterey.com/ian-brand-discovering-great-vineyards-at-the-edge-of-sensible-farming/ and I. Brand & Family here: https://decantingmonterey.com/i-brand-family-what-we-do-is-simple-without-artifice-and-we-enjoy-it/.
Today I am bringing you one of their wines from the Arroyo Seco AVA, an AVA I previously introduced you to here: https://decantingmonterey.com/pierce-ranch-eclectic-varietals-from-the-san-antonio-ava/.
2019 P’tit Paysan Sauvignon Blanc Zabala Vineyard, Arroyo Seco AVA, Monterey County, 12.9% ABV, $22 (#165*)
About the 2019 Sauvignon Blanc: “Certified Organic. 100% Sauvignon Blanc. Zabala Vineyards is located on a large holding on the Arroyo Seco floodplains that was part of land granted to the Zabala family before California’s statehood. It was first planted in the 1970s and has grown to encompass over 1000 acres. Zabala Vineyards is one of the rockiest vineyards Ian Brand works with, full of what is locally known as ‘Greenfield Potatoes’, which are the rather inedible round river stones that dominate the soil and have been collected into piles and walls at every property in the basin. This vineyard is located directly in the path of the daily Salinas Valley winds, which control sugar development and retain natural acidity. Picked around 22.5 brix with bright acidity. Fermented in stainless steel, aged in 1/3 stainless, 2/3 neutral barrel for 7 months. Arrested malic. 120 cases produced.”
My Review: Bright yellow – pretty golden color. Grassy and citrus on the nose. All that plus a touch of pineapple on the palate. Delicious. 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
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