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Grapes aren’t the only thing
in the press at the Brander Vineyard. Sometimes it’s a much
anticipated release of a special wine, a mention of the wines in
the wine magazines
or at other times a bit of news about the people or happenings at
the winery.
You can read all of the latest right here. Check
back often, or better yet, sign up for the newsletter by clicking here!
 Top 100 Wine - Au Naturel 2010
“Brander’s ode to the Loire-focused greatness of this grape delivers brilliantly. A full day of soaking on the grape skins brings an opulent mouthfeel to this lavish, fig-scented bottle. The grassy notes are subtle, amid lots of ripe tangerine. A perfect framework for the complexity of great fruit.”
Rhone Report Reviews
2009 Brander Vineyards Syrah (USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Ynez Valley) $20 The 2009 Brander Vineyards Syrah, aged in a combination of French and American oak for 8 months, is a lively and perfumed Syrah that exhibits bright cherry and black berry fruit characteristics, with underbrush, herbs, and violets emerging in the glass. Light to medium-bodied on the palate and certainly lacking in depth, this nevertheless has integrated, juicy acidity, and a clean, delicious, and balanced profile that will shine on the dinner table. It should be consumed over the coming 3-4 years. (87 pts.)
2009 Brander Vineyards Syrah Clover Creek Vineyard (USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Ynez Valley) $25 Showing more depth and ripeness, the Brander Vineyards Syrah Clover Creek Vineyard, aged 8 months in French oak, delivers a ripe bouquet of blackberry fruits, smoke, pepper, and river rock, as well as a medium-bodied, focused, and moderately concentrated mouth feel. I like the density here, and the wine has a rustic texture, plenty of ripeness to the fruit, and enough tannin and structure to keep it drinking well for 4-6 years. (88 pts.)
2009 Brander Syrah Colson Canyon Vineyard (USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County) $35 While still playing in the same cool climate spectrum, the most textured and concentrated of the Syrahs is the 2009 Brander Syrah Colson Canyon Vineyard. Aged in French oak for 12 months, it displays deep plum and black fruits with copious amounts of pepper, mineral, herbs, and violets on the nose. This is followed by a medium-bodied, concentrated Syrah that has notable purity of fruit, a seamless, polished texture, and masses of fine tannin that add length to the finish. All in all, this is an impressive, borderline outstanding Syrah that should drink beautifully for upwards of a decade. (89+ pts.)
 Syrah
Scores
Brander 2009 Syrah, Clover Creek Vineyard
A nice, flavorful and dry Syrah for drinking now with barbecue or a rich lamb
or beef stew. Soft and gentle, it's rich in blackberries, cherries, currants,
beef jerky, pepper and smoky oak. 87 points
Brander 2009 Syrah, Santa Ynez Valley
Brander's basic Syrah is a good, dry wine, and while it's a little on the light
side, it has oretty flavors of blackberreis, black pepper, cola and blackcurrants.
The alcohol is nice and low, under 14%. 87 points
Brander 2009 Syrah, Colson Canyon Vineyard
Heavy and dense in the mouth with rich flavors of grilled
blackberries, pepper and a lovely addition of toasted oak. Nice and
dry but a bit too soft and would benefit from some greater structure. 87
points
Red
Wines Reviewed
Brander 2008 Bouchet, Santa Ynez Valley 87 points
Brander 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon, Santa Ynez Valley
85 points
Brander 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve,
Estate
As soft and sweet as a melted raspberry and chocolate tart dessert pastry,
with a sprinkle of anisette liqueur. Lacks structural integrity, but it's delicious. 86
points
"Brilliant
with shellfish"
Sauvignon Blanc Au Naturel 2009
There's no oak on this wine, so it's hard to believe it's this rich and complex.
The flavors are of citrus fruits, white peaches and tart green apples. Hard
to say why it's so good, beyond some fabulous contribution from the vineyard
that offers a complex minerality. Best of all is the racy acidity. Brilliant
with shellfish. 92 points.
Sauvignon Blanc Purisima Mountain 2009
So pure and clean, as fine an example of Sauvignon Blanc as exists in California.
Only free run juice is used, so there's no bitterness at all, just ripe,
exotic flavors of limes, lemons, grapefruits, minerals and flowers. Compelling,
and a very great food wine for just about anything that needs a crisp, dry
white. 91 points.
Sauvignon Blanc 2009
Shows the dryness and raciness of all Brander's Sauvignon
Blancs, with lovely, delicious citrus fruits, lemongrass, vanilla,
honeysuckle and spice flavors. Just a delight to drink, at a great
price. 89 points Editors' Choice
California's
Top Sauvignon Blancs
Brander Vineyard was names as one of "three
California vineyards that reliably produce sold SB fruit year in
and year out"
"In any given vintage, Au Naturel vies with
Cuvée Nicholas for top honors. Both are made with free-run
juice. Au Naturel is extraordinarily complex, testimony to the greatness
of the estate's terroir. If the grapes are employed in Nicholas,
with the added luxury of oak and lees, the result is one of California's
most consistently great Sauvignon Blancs."
 Points
for Brander
Sauvignon Blanc Cuvée Nicholas
2009
Wonderfully rich and fragrant, with lemon curd, apricot marmalade and sweet
pea notes, with hints of smoke that expand on the finish. To balance all the
richness, a wonderfully bright, crisp acidity runs through the backbone. 91
points
Sauvignon Blanc Mesa Verde 2009
Fragrant and bold, delivering Key lime pie, passion fruit and papaya flavors
that are refreshing and persistant on the finish.
 The
Brander Vineyard was featured in the Central Coast issue of Steven
Tanzer's International Wine Review:
Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Reserve Santa
Ynez Valley 2006
Deep ruby. Pungent aromas of red- and blackcurrant,
dark cherry, anise and herbs, with a hint of mocha gaining power
with air. Peppery red and dark berry and bitter cherry flavors are
sweetened by vanillin oak and framed by dusty tannins. This is wound
pretty tight today and needs aeration but it packs solid punch and
finishes juicy, focused and very long. 90 points
Sauvignon Blanc Mesa Verde Vineyard
Santa Ynez Valley 2008
Light yellow. Pink grapefruit and lime on the nose,
with notes of chamomile, herbs and pear skin adding complexity. Juicy
but rather taut, with ripe citrus and orchard fruit flavors and slow-building
spiciness. This nicely concentrated but very young wine gained sweetness
and power with aeration. 89 points
Sauvignon Blanc Santa Ynez Valley 2008
Very pale yellow. Pungent aromas of grapefruit, lime
and white flowers, plus a hint of green cardamom. Pliant citrus and
orchard fruit flavors become sweeter with air and pick up a juicy
melon quality. Finishes slightly warm, with good cling and length. 87
points
Cabernet Sauvignon Santa Ynez Valley
2007
Ruby-red. Cherry and cassis on the nose, with notes
of cracked pepper and dried flowers adding complexity. Juicy and
a touch sweet, offering cherry-vanilla and dark berry flavors and
showing no rough edges or tannins. Finishes plush and slightly candied,
with the vanilla note repeating. 87 points
© International
Wine Cellar
 Top
100 Wines 2009
The San Francisco Chronicle included Brander Au
Naturel Sauvignon Blanc in its Top 100 Wines.
This Central Coast specialist in Sauvignon
Blanc left juice on the skins for 24 hours and then aged it in
stainless steel. That made this deliciously textural and reminiscent
of grapefruit skin, with lean peach flavors.
"That's something you don't find too much
in California, at least. A lot of people avoid skin contact because
you can get bitterness. With our grapes it works well." — Fred
Brander on how he gets extra texture and aromas by soaking the
grape skins for his Au Naturel Sauvignon Blanc
THE BRANDER VINEYARDS SCHOLARSHIP
Allan Hancock Community College
Congratulations to Angela T. Soleno-Pedersen & Zachary
A. Zybura
These annual scholarships are provided by the Brander family to support students
majoring in Enology and/or Viticulture.
 90
Points!
Brander 2008 Santa Ynez Valley Mesa Verde
Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc
This emphasizes freshness in its fruit expression, from
the scents of pear and citrus to the mouthwatering acidity. It feels
spicy and full, with a broad, sandy texture and concentrated flavors
of ripe melon. It would match the oily richness of a Vietnamese-style
whole fried fish.
 WINE
OF THE WEEK: 2008 Brander Sauvignon Blanc
Glenn Koenig / Los Angeles Times
Hail the 32nd vintage(!) of Brander Sauvignon Blanc.
Made from fruit grown in the Los Olivos area, the 2008, like all
the vintages before it, is a summer classic. Crisp and minerally
with a touch of grapefruit rind and grass in the perfume, this is
a California Sauvignon Blanc that's closer to Sancerre than some
of the overly oaked fruit bombs around. And at under $15 -- sometimes
well under, it's a basic for warm-weather drinking.
Owner and winemaker C. Frederic Brander produces
a couple of other more expensive Sauvignon Blanc cuvees, such as
the more intense "Cuvée Nicolas" aged sur lie
in barrels, half of them new French oak, which imparts a pronounced
flavor. Funny thing, though, I much prefer the regular bottling
for its pure fruit flavors.
2007 Cuvée Nicolas
Sauvignon Blanc: 92 Points
Just beautiful, a crisp wine of authoritative structure that brilliantly shows
off the ripeness of its fruit. Waves of Meyer lemon purée, Key lime
pie, white peach, tangerine and spice flavors wash over the palate and last
for a long, rich finish. Drink this bone-dry wine now. Editors Choice
2007 Au Naturel Sauvignon Blanc: 91 points
This is the winery's unoaked version of Sauvignon Blanc,
and it's never been anything less than exciting. The '07 shows the
titillating acidity of this cool vintage, with full ripe flavors
of limes, golden mangoes, peaches, green apples and vanilla custard.
Just beautiful.
2007 Uno Mas
This unusual blend has been a hit forBrander since its inception. The '07 is
a rich wine, with high acidity and exotic tropical fruit, cherry, honey,
vanilla cookie and spice flavors.
American Wine Awards 2008: Best Wines for Under $20
2007 Brander Santa Ynez Valley
This Santa Barbara County winery is a rare breed in California: a Sauvignon
Blanc specialist. Brander’s emphasis on the grape pays off in the 31st
bottling of its entry-level wine—vibrant and dry, with melony fruit
and grassy, herbal nuances.
Recommended
Sauvignon Blancs from California
BRANDER Sauvignon Blanc Santa Ynez Valley 2007
Vibrant and juicy, with tasty lemon-lime, herb, mineral and spicy Asian pear
notes that persist on the finish.
BRANDER Sauvignon Blanc Santa Ynez Valley Purisma
Mountain 2007
Vibrant Key lime pie, papaya and pea blossom notes sail along a mouthwatering
acidity, light on its feet and very refreshing.
Brander Cuvée Natalie Santa Ynez Valley
2007
Ripe peach, melon and lemonade flavors take on a pleasant candied note, with
a floral overtone and juicy acidity. Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Pinot Blanc
and Pinot Gris.
Best of Class, 2008
The Brander Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2007 won
Best of Class in this year's Santa Barbara County Fair Wine Competition.
July
2008
Brander 2006 Syrah (Santa Ynez Valley)
Dry, tannic and ripe, this Syrah has rewarding blackberry, currant, black rasberry,
date, chocolate and pepper flavors that are deep and long in the finish.
Its a savory, polished wine, with quite a bit of elegance and sophistication.
April
2008
Best American Wines $15 & Under: Sauvignon
Blanc
Fred Brander has been specializing in Sauvignon Blanc for three decades, making
him one of the pioneering winemakers in California’s Santa Ynez Valley.
Brander makes several terrific higher-end Sauvignon Blanc cuvées, but
this spicy basic bottling—to which he adds a portion of Pinot Blanc and
Riesling for complexity—gives a fine idea of his style.
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