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: 2017 I. Brand & Family "Escolle Vineyard" Santa Lucia Highlands Chardonnay

2017 I. Brand & Family "Escolle Vineyard" Santa Lucia Highlands Chardonnay (Previously $30)

SKU #1427280 93 points Wine Enthusiast

Outer quote mark Very light and bright, this bottling from one of the appellation’s northernmost and coolest sites shows honeysuckle and more white flowers on the subtle, delicate and yet inviting nose. There’s a vibrant tension on the sip, where chalky white-rock flavors dance with lemon zest for a laser-sharp expression. (MK) Inner quote mark (10/2019)

K&L Notes

From Matt Kettmann: "Ian Brand, The SF Chronicle’s 2018 Winemaker of the Year, is quite possibly the most interesting vintner in Monterey County today. The Connecticut-raised, former Bonny Doon cellar rat and one-time assistant at Big Basin is sourcing from so many distinct, often old-vine sites, and spearheading so many different consulting projects. Though quite varied in styles and grapes, the wines are all very energetic, distinctive and extremely fairly priced."

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2017 I. Brand & Family "Escolle Vineyard" Santa Lucia Highlands Chardonnay

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WE: 93

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Product Reviews:

By: Ryan Woodhouse | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: 9/11/2019 | Send Email

Another wine from Ian Brand, this time from the other side of the Salinas Valley in the Santa Lucia Highlands. The Escolle vineyard, owned and farmed by the Caraccioli family, has quickly become one of the most highly regarded vineyards in the region. Again, the acid line is pure and focused, but here Ian has built a bit more texture and phenolic power, with more lees contact and some subtle, nutty oak. This one will age beautifully. Another bargain given the quality and pedigree.

Additional Information:

Varietal:

Chardonnay

- It's hard to believe that up until about 30 years ago, this extremely popular varietal hid behind the veil of geographical names like Chablis and Puligny-Montrachet. Now grown all over the world and bottled by its varietal name, Chardonnay has achieved a level of branding unlike any other wine. Surprisingly, though, what you get when you buy Chardonnay can differ greatly from country to country and even within one country, depending on the climate where it's grown and how it is vinified and aged. From fresh, crisp and minerally with apple and lemon notes to rich and buttery with tropical fruit overtones, Chardonnay runs the gamut. In France's Burgundy, Chardonnay is the source of the prized wines of Chablis, Corton-Charlemagne, Mâcon, Meursault and Montrachet. It also the foundation of exceptional Champagne, where it is blended with Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier or vinified on its own into Blanc de Blancs. It is also extremely popular in California, and is gaining popularity in Australia, New Zealand, Italy, Spain and South Africa.

Country:

United States

- When people consider domestic wine, they normally think about the state of California. The fine viticultural Region within California, including the Napa Valley, Sonoma, Santa Cruz Mountains, Mendocino and Santa Barbara, are capable of growing grapes of world-class quality. But there's plenty of fabulous wine coming from other states, too. Oregon, Washington and New York are also causing eyebrows (and glassware) to be raised around the world.

Sub-Region:

California

- With the explosive growth that California's wine industry has seen the past several years, it's easy to view winemaking and grape growing in the Golden State as a recent phenomenon. And while it's true that California's viticultural history is brief compared to several European countries, this state's roots date back well over 200 years. Due to the enormous response to California wine within the United States and worldwide, there are thousands of excellent and diverse wines being produced within the state each year.

Specific Appellation:

Monterey/Carmel Valley

- These heavily planted regions on either side of the vast Salinas Valley account for much of the mass-produced, commercial wine sold in supermarkets nationwide. In the hills, however, and in sub-AVAs like Chalone and Santa Lucia Highlands, quality is much higher. Pinot noir and chardonnay look to be particularly promising.