2016 I. Brand & Family Grenache Old Vine Besson Vineyard - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Clara Valley (3/30/2019)
Berserker Day purchase to try out the wines of Ian Brand.
This starts with all the hallmarks of Grenache. It’s a pretty, strawberry red color, and it has bright, fresh, ripe red fruit on the nose and palate. What set it apart for me was that it had a denser mid-palate than what I typically encounter with California Grenache. It wasn’t just flash and flair. There was a depth to the wine that had me going back sip after sip, trying to get at what was ultimately an elusive core. I am glad to have a second bottle, as I want to let it rest for a little while, and see if that core unfurls. Very interesting wine.