The wine is produced predominantly from a few vineyards at the base of Jack’s Hill, planted on the distinct iron oxide granite that dominates the east side of the Salinas Valley, directly east of Sleepy Hollow North. Clone 4 and 76 on 101-14 and 3309 rootstock, 35-year-old Wente clone on unknown rootstock (nobody remembers what it is). Also blended with small lots of Chardonnay clone 17 (also Wente) from the northern Santa Lucia Highlands, Italian clone Chardonnay from the granitic sands of Arroyo Seco, and 42 year old shot Wente clone off calcium rich alluvium. All cool to cold climate.
The wines is bright, crisp and clean with orchard fruit giving way to an intense minerality.
Aged cheeses, summer salads, fish based risotto, smoked salmon, cod, duck with fruit glaze, herbed chicken.
"Tight and brisk aromas of lemon peel and sandstone come through on the nose of this always fairly priced bottling. It's soft on the palate in texture, but a wet stone minerality and lemon juice acidity provide tension, with dried pear and orange peel flavors showing as well. - Matt KETTMANN"
- Wine Enthusiast (July 1st 2021), 90 pts
"This bottling by Ian Brand always packs bang for the buck, but he really nailed it in the 2017 vintage. Clean and delicate aromas of Asian pear, lemon rind and edgy chalk lead into a racy, crisp and tightly wound palate. Flavors of grapefruit, nectarine, blanched almond and sea salt are delicious."
- Wine Enthusiast (February 2019), 92 pts, Editors' Choice
"Hints of lime blossoms, toasted nuts and wood smoke show on the nose of this very fairly priced bottling, whose previous vintages have been shown to age magically. Wood-fired pears and apples show on the palate, which will please both those seeking a bit of oak and those who enjoy a racier style of Chardonnay."
- Wine Enthusiast (June 2018), 89 pts
Ian and Heather Brand founded I Brand Family Wines in Central Coast California in 2008. Ian’s first winery job was with Bonny Doon Winery; he then went to work for ...
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