This is my second of three planned posts on my Spring Release 2021 I Brand wines, with this post focusing on the Le P’tit Paysan label.
But, before we get to them, let’s start with a 2017 P’tit Paysan Viognier (as they say, “vee-oh-NYAY”) which I presented in a recent wine class. Having lived near the Virginia wine region, where Viognier is plentiful, I have been impressed over the years with Le P’tit Paysan Viogniers. In my wine class, we were each asked to present a Viognier from anywhere. In our class we learned about wines from Argentina, France, California, Maryland, Virginia and Washington State!
In addition to the 2017 Viognier, I am highlighting 3 Le P’tit Paysan wines from the I Brand Spring 2021 Club Release, which I sampled at their tasting room in Carmel Valley Village.
Colorfully-labeled Le P’tit Paysan wines sampled in early March at the I Brand Tasting Room in Carmel Valley Village
About Le P’tit Paysan (I Brand’s French country-imspired brand from the label: “Le P’tit Paysan – a country man or woman; peasant; clown; in country fashion. We select grapes from vineyards off the beaten path to produce wines that express the soil, climate and character of their source.”
2017 Le P’tit Paysan Viognier “L’Apiculteur”, Cedar Lane Vineyard, Arroyo Seco AVA, Montery County, 13.4% ABV, $22 (#276*)
“L’Apitculteur” from the P’tit Paysan 2017 Viognier Tech Sheet
Winemaker’s Tasting Notes: ““L’Apitculteur” translates, “keeper of the bees”. Vibrant aromatics fill the nose with white floral qualities. Honeyed stone-fruits fill the mouth, apricots, peaches and pears. Cooler growing climate produces white floral components, and soft minerality. Med-full bodied weight on the palate, supports a perception of sweetness, due to clean fruit and honeyed characteristics.”
My Review: Straw yellow in color. Yummy boquet of sweet peach, grapefruit and gardenia. Crisp on the palate, delicious, not sweet, with a slight citrus bitterness and perhaps some lavender on the palate. Complex. March 2021
2020 Le P’tit Paysan Rosé Pierre’s Pirouette, Central Coast, 12.8% ABV, $19 (#277*)75% Mourvèdre, 18% Grenache, 7% Cinsault
Le P’tit Paysan Pierre’s Pirouette is always one of my favorite rosés from the Central Coast!
From their webpage: “Our Rosé is a choice blend of Mourvèdre, Grenache, Cinsault. These vineyards are intentionally picked for their rocky & sandy soils which drive up the minerality and keep a balanced bright acidity. A perfect summer sipper with hints of strawberry, orange peel and a subtle spice. Undertone of crushed rock, sea spray and jasmine complete this complex but easy to drink wine. Pairs well with good friends and bonfires on the beach.”
My Review: Dusty rose in color. Peachy watermelon on the nose. Round flavors on the palate – Mourvèdre dominating. A touch of sweetness and gentle tobacco on the lingering finish. Agree with rose petal in the winery’s description! March 2021
2018 Le P’tit Paysan P’tit Pape Red Rhone Blend, Central Coast, 13.4% ABV, $22 (#278*) 52% Grenache, 36% Syrah, 12% Mourvèdre
The 2018 P’tit Pape might be my favorite vintage of this blend yet!
Winery Tasting Notes: “dark cherry, cocoa, stewed plums, white pepper”
My Review: Beautiful ruby in the glass. Chocolate raspberry truffle on the nose. A richer palate of dark cherry and black currant, with rose petal and cherry on the finish. This could be my favorite P’tit Pape yet! I am hoping to showcase this wine in an upcoming Washington Wine & Cheese Seminar class. March 2021
2018 Le P’tit Paysan Old Vines Cabernet Sauvignon, San Benito County, 12.9% ABV, $25 (#279*)
The grapes for this Old Vines Cabernet Sauvignon were sourced from nearby San Benito County.
Winery Tasting Notes: “currant, blueberry, cracked black pepper, medium-bodied”
My Review: Ruby in the glass. A light, smooth bouquet and palate to match. Very drinkable – not a big wine, but a great value and drinkable now! March 2021
When my Spring Club Release became available for pickup, I contacted the I Brand tasting room to find a day I could stop by for a quiet, isolated outdoor tasting to taste their new releases. In addition to tasting those wines in early March, we have opened several other Ian Brand wines at home in 2021. I’ll be presenting all of them in 3 separate posts by label: La Marea, Le P’tit Paysan, and I. Brand & Family. Today’s post is about three La Marea wines, Ian Brand’s label for his Spanish-inspired wines.
More About La Marea from the Winery: “La Marea, (Spanish for “The Tide”), made by Ian Brand of Le P’tit Paysan, is a tiny winery focused on single vineyard Spanish varietals “rooted in the sea, the soil and the sea air”. Brand believes Monterey and San Benito to be some of the most ideally suited climates in California for Spanish varietals like Albariño, Grenache (Garnacha) and Mourvedre (Monastrell). The proximity to the cool ocean waters Monterey Bay provides an optimal climate for Albarino while the warmer San Antonio and San Benito Valleys closely resemble the Spanish regions where these grapes thrive. This region, once the site of a shallow ocean bed millions of years ago, is one of the few spots in California with a high percentage of limestone found in the soil which gives the wines a high naturally acidity. As with his P’tit Paysan wines, Brand works with fruit harvested at lower Brix, ferments using a combination of native and cultured yeast, and favors neutral oak.”
2020 La Marea Albariño, Kristy Vineyard, Monterey AVA, 11.9% ABV, $24 (#269*)
“The Kristy Vineyard grows on the western bench over the Salinas River on the broken sediment of ancient sea beds where it is exposed to the consistent cooling winds off the Monterey Bay. Kristy is a special because Albariño in the vineyard reaches full phenological ripeness at low potential alcohol and bright natural acidity later in the season. Usually picked between 20-22 Brix with a sub 3 PH and nearly 9 g/L TA. Whole cluster pressed and cold fermented to preserve aromatics and freshness. Secondary fermentation is arrested.” La Marea
My Review: Pale yellow in color, fragrant Gardenia, grapefruit and lemon curd on the nose. Vibrant acidity on the flavorful palate of sweet grapefruit, with a lingering lemony finish. March 2021
2016 La Marea Grenache Spur Ranch, San Benito County, 13% ABV, $20? (#270*)
“Spur Ranch Vineyard is part of an 11,000 acre ranch located at a 1000 foot elevation with a fifteen degree south facing slope on the south side of Chalone peak. The soils are high-calcareous content clay over the same mica shist substrate that dominates the Chalone appellation. Fermented whole berry with a small percentage of whole cluster with both native and selected yeast strains. Aged in 100% neutral barrels for 11 months. 135 cs produced.” La Marea
Winery Tasting Notes: “Beautiful and bright representation. Profile firmly representative of its unique micro-climate terroir. Cooler region, allows peak levels of ripeness, while also obtaining low alcohol levels. Freshness, purity of fruit and an elegant, silky style. Endless layers of red fruits fill the nose. On the palate, acid leads, allowing bright red fruits, strawberries, cherries and raspberries to pop with a beam of minerality. Green anise and fennel appear, while the red fruits maintain palate saturation.” 124 cases produced.
My Review: Translucent light cherry in color. Light cherry on the nose, a slight bit of vinegar. Very light on the palate, refreshing, almost as light as a rosé! After opening up, flavors became a little more complex. January 2021
2018 La Marea Grenache, Central Coast, 13.6% ABV, $30* (#271*)
The grapes for this “Central Coast” wine were sourced from San Benito, Monterey, and Santa Clara Counties.
Winery Tasting Notes: A traditional Spanish Grenache – “red plums, damp earth, baking spice, subtle complexity”
My Review: Bright, transluscent cherry. Sweet raspberry on the nose, very smooth red currant on the palate, lingering light licorice flavors. March 2021
*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.
I have presented Ian Brand’s wines to you in 4 previous posts (you can find them all with a simple search on “Ian Brand”) including one specifically on a P’tit Paysan wine here: https://decantingmonterey.com/ptit-paysan-creates-a-2019-zabala-vineyard-sauvignon-blanc/. We’ve tasted quite a few over the many months of the Pandemic and have consolidated 5 of them here! The P’tit Paysan wines are the ones that first made us fans of Ian’s wines – affordable, quality wines with amusing labels drawn by his nephew!
The I Brand & Family tasting room in Carmel Valley Village is open for wine sales and pick-ups!
About P’tit Paysan from K&L Wine Merchants : “Winemaker Ian Brand moved to California to pursue a life of surfing, but quickly got bitten by the wine bug. He is a bit of a rebel, and the purpose of the P’tit Paysan project is to present simple, unpretentious “country” wines. In reality these simple wines come from some unique vineyard sites that Ian has sniffed out in the backcountry of Monterey and the surrounding area. Most of these vineyards exhibit very poor soils, in harsh conditions just on the edge of farmlands. The struggle these vines must face makes for intense fruit.” Because of he sources grapes from across the region, many of his wines carry the “Central Coast” label. I have 5 of his Le P’tit Paysan wines to present to you today.
2018 Le P’tit Paysan Rosé Pierre’s Pirouette, Central Coast, 12.4% ABV, ~$20 (#25*)
It was a rare summery day, reaching over 70 degrees in our little coastal town where temperatures often hover in the 55-65 degrees range. We spent a good chunk of the afternoon enjoying the backyard, eating lunch on the patio, swimming and even sunbathing. It felt like we were at a resort and it called for a “pool wine.” But we got something MUCH better!
Winemaker’s Notes from wine.com: “Made from Grenache and Mourvédre grown in Spur Ranch’s limestone-rich clays and Grenache and Cinsault from the granitic bluffs above the Arroyo Seco River. Picked below 22 brix, with bright natural acidity. Fermented in several lots with some native and some cultured yeasts.” Because grapes are sourced from Monterey County’s Chalone and Arroyo Seco AVAs, this wine earns the “Central Coast” label. 61% Mourvèdre, 34% Grenache, 5% Cinsault
wine.com Review – 92 points: “It seems lately that Rosés aka Pink Wines are a dime a dozen. The omnipresence has my palate spinning. Fortunately, a few folks are producing some astonishingly beautiful efforts. The 2018 Le P’tit Paysan Rosé is one of the marketplace’s best efforts. TASTING NOTES: This is a pert little gem with a refreshingly delicious and crisp aftertaste. Its aromas and flavors of bright red fruit fly throughout the wine. Pair it with a chicken salad with slivers of strawberries and toasted sesame seeds.” Wilfred Wong March 2019
My Review: I presented an earlier vintage of this wine to the Washington Wine and Cheese Seminar – and this one would be equally worthy – perhaps my favorite rosé of the vintage from the region. It has a fragrant bouquet of rose and gardenia. Keeping sugars in check, this wine is refreshing and balanced, pleasant and crisp – not sweet and not too dry. A bit of bitters on the finish. This is a keeper – highly recommend. April 2020
2019 Le P’tit Paysan Rosé Pierre’s Pirouette, Central Coast, 12.4% ABV, ~$20 (#33*)
No, no, the label was fine. This bottle spent time in an ice bucket!
We had a warm day – one of the warmest and sunniest this spring – short sleeves and sleeveless tops. And a virtual happy hour with our favorite East Coast friends. This called for another rosé! I told my good friend Randy that I needed his nose for my wine blog and he offered to virtually smell the wine – we held the glass of wine near our computer camera – he picked up strawberry and watermelon. Yeah, no, but it was good for a laugh. Yes, this is what it has come to.
Winemaker Notes from wine.com : “The Mourvedre from the Le P’tit Paysan Rose is from two vineyards, one in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains west of Gilroy (rocky, alluvial soils), the other is Spur Ranch in San Benito (limestone). The Grenache is from Arroyo Seco (granite), as is the Cinsault. Monterey/San Benito/Santa Clara Counties.” 56% Mourvèdre, 26% Grenache, 18% Cinsault
Wine Enthusiast – 91 points : “Fresh aromas of rose petal, watermelon, bubblegum and squeezed lime show on the nose of this pink blend of 56% Mourvèdre, 26% Grenache and 18% Cinsault. There’s a great sizzle to the sip, where a crushed seashell minerality wraps up flavors of light orange and delicate strawberry.” Matt Kettmann September 2020
My Review: This newly-released 2019 Le P’tit Paysan Rosé has a lovely pale peach, pink color. It is higher in Cinsault than the previous vintage, with peach and pineapple on the nose. It is crisp and light, with the Mourvèdre shining through. Very enjoyable. I might prefer the 2018, but would have to try them side by side to know for sure. April 2020
2016 Le P’tit Paysan Cabernet Sauvignon Central Coast, 13.4% ABV, $25* (#14*)
According to www.sommselect.com, the P’tit Paysan 2016 is California Cabernet “at its most balanced, bursting with finesse and freshness, which instantly makes it eye candy for lovers of classic Bordeaux… You will not find another California Cabernet that delivers this much at such a low price, so don’t miss out…The grapes underwent a long, cool, whole-berry fermentation in separate lots before blending and aging for one year in neutral French barrels. The wine was bottled without filtration.” 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot
Wine Enthusiast – 91 points: “Warm aromas of baked red cherry and caramel grow more complex due to a gravelly minerality and hints of peppercorns on the nose of this bottling by Ian Brand. The palate leads with oregano and pepper, those spices overwhelming the fruit, and the rocky minerality continues, leading into a cocoa-laced finish. It is a lithe and lively style of Cab.” Matt Kettmann June 2018
Good luck finding any. But, if you do, drink now through 2026. Heck, drink now. April 2020
2016 Le P’tit Paysan Le P’tit Pape, Central Coast, 13.17% ABV, $22 (#37*)
Another beautiful day in isolation – and another Ian Brand Le P’tit Paysan wine. We like these wines as every day drinking – such affordable, high quality, food wines. We have been particularly fond of his Rhône blend “Le P’tit Pape” over the years. As with the red blends from Châteauneuf-du-Pape, this wine is based on Rhône varietals and, primarily, Grenache. This was the wine which originally drew us to Ian Brand’s wines – our first favorite of his many wines.
Wine Enthusiast – 93 points: “Ian Brand’s flagship bottling just keeps getting better, yet stays reasonably priced. Light in the glass, this blend of 65% Grenache, 26% Syrah, 7% Mourvèdre and 2% Counoise offers lovely aromas of strawberry, red plum, white pepper, wild tomato and forest floor. It’s taut in texture on the sip, holding cranberry and strawberry flavors in check, as dried sagebrush carries through the finish.” Matt Kettmann March 2019
My Review: The 2016 Le P’tit Pape appears table grape red in the glass, light-to-medium bodied with raspberry and cherry, very smooth and refreshing. May 2020
Winemaker Notes: “Cherry blossoms, dusty road, red plums, herb de Provence. Rosewater and red cherry on the palate, nimble with medium body. Grippy finish with firm Grenache tannins and hints of olive and sagebrush.”
Wine Enthusiast – 93 points: “Clean raspberry and strawberry aromas are lifted by a pinch of pepper and fresh marjoram on the nose of this blend of 57% Grenache, 34% Syrah, 6% Mourvèdre and 3% Counoise. Tart cranberry and strawberry flavors are quite fresh on the palate, but there are also savory hints of meat and white pepper.” Matt Kettmann, 10/2020
My Review: Transluscent medium red with a berry nose. Cherry on the palate, followed by cassis, currant and tobacco on the finish. This wine is representative of how creative sourcing can lead to a very nice, everyday wine at a great value. We recently tasted this wine again – it was a enjoyable break from the super big reds we mostly drink. I appreciated it so much! September 2020
I Brand is closed for tastings due to the Stay-at-Home order but open for wine pickups – email them at HELLO@IBRANDWINERY.COM to order wines. I just heard the 2019 rose is on sale – so contact the winery quickly if you want to get some before it sells out!
*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.
One of the things Ian Brand is known for is sourcing grapes wherever he can find them to create his wines. In this blog post, I am reviewing 3 of their I. Brand & Family wines – each from a different county in the Central Coast. This post prepares us for our next move into Central Coast-labeled wines.
2018 I. Brand & Family Pinot Gris, Eden Rift Vineyard, Cienega Valley AVA, San Benito County, 13.2% ABV, $30 (#86*)
This unique 2018 Pinot Gris is lovely in color and flavors.
We pulled this wine out in June for a farewell for our daughter as she headed off on another adventure. I had looked at this bottle earlier in the week for a Rosé class, but there was nothing on it to say it was one. Except the wax over the cork was orange instead of yellow, as is the case in Ian Brand’s whites. And that is because Pinot Gris will naturally give you an orange wine. Who knew?
From grapelive.com – 92 points: “…Coming from the low yielding terraces at Eden Rift in Cienega Valley, not far from Calera in San Benito County, Brand’s Pinot Gris is wonderfully textural and charming on the palate with juicy peach, red apple skin, citrus and passion fruit leading the way along with a touch of mineral, mountain herb, orange zest, clove, a hint of apple better and wet chalk…”
Wine Enthusiast Review – 92 points: “With dynamic and complex expressions like this, it’s a wonder why people started stripping the naturally pink hue that Pinot Gris provides. The pinkish orange wine delivers aromas of strawberry sorbet and rosebuds and then opens onto a palate of light raspberry and watermelon. There is ample tannic tension as well.” Matt Kettmann 12/2019
My Review: Bellini pink, peach 🍑 in color, sweet peach on the nose, a balance of sweet and tart mid palate, with a refreshing finish. September 2020
2016 I. Brand & Family Old Vine Grenache, Besson Vineyard, Santa Clara AVA, 14.6% ABV, $42 (#4*)
2016 Old Vines Grenache.
Made from grapes from 100-year old vines, this wine spent about 20 months in 20% new wood barrels, making this a bigger than average Grenache.
My Review: The 2016 Old Vines Grenache is a beautiful cherry red color with bright fruit on nose and palate. Very balanced and tasty, with lingering flavors on the palate. This was more enjoyable on the second day. Enjoy now or hold for a bit.
2016 I. Brand & Family Cabernet Franc Bates Ranch, Santa Cruz Mountains, 12.7% ABV, $42 (#80*)
2016 Cabernet Franc, Bates Ranch.
I. Brand & Family makes 2 Cabernet Francs: a Chinon-style one from Paicines, which I presented at my Fall 2019 Washington Wine & Cheese Seminar, and this one – Bates Ranch – a richer, Bordeaux-style wine from the Santa Cruz Mountains. They are both terrific wines, yet I much prefer the style of the Bates Ranch.
From I. Brand via www.unionsquarewines.com: “In our opinion, Bates Ranch is the least known of the holy trinity of Bordeaux varietal sites in the Santa Cruz Mountains. The other two, Monte Bello and Mt. Eden, are among the most revered vineyards in California. We first became aware of Bates Ranch through the amazing, and amazingly ageworthy, 70s and 80s bottlings from classic Santa Cruz Mountain produces like Santa Cruz Mountain Vineyards and Ahlgren Vineyards. Bates Ranch is located in the extreme southeastern end of the appellation, on Redwood Retreat Road. We are honored to receive the fruit from half of a small block of Cabernet France planted in 1978 for this bottling. Soils in this section of vineyard are the red Franciscan series of volcanic influenced sedimentary rocks that runs along the eastern side of the Santa Cruz Mountains. Fermented whole berry with native yeasts and a three week maceration. Aged in a neutral puncheon, a neutral barrel and a once used barrel for 20 months. 94 cases produced.”
My Review: Ian Brand makes his wines lean, lower alcohol and less fruitiness than in most California wines. What this means is you can get to the true expression of the fruit. The 2016 Cabernet Franc Bates Ranch is still a somewhat lean Cabernet Franc. The palate is bold and fruity with bright acidity and cranberry/cherry tartness. Would love to try it with a cheese plate.
You can find I. Brand & Family wines directly from the winery – email them at brandfamilywinery@gmail.com. If you want to taste their wines, they are open Thurs. – Sun. 12pm – 6pm for tastings with limited hosted seatings. Please contact: hello@ibrandwinery.com to make a reservation.
*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.
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.
2019 P’tit Paysan Sauvignon Blanc Zabala Vineyard, Arroyo Seco AVA, Monterey County, 12.9% ABV, $22 (#165*)
The 2019 Le P’tit Paysan Sauvignon Blanc
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.
The I. Brand Tasting Room is open by appointment!
*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.
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
The grapes for this I. Brand & Family wine are sourced from the Chalone Vineyard.
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.
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