After graduating from college in Vermont, winemaker, owner and native New Englander Ian Brand found a job on the Alaskan Peninsula leading groups of tourists to see grizzly bears in the wild. He continued his adventures for five years, ski-bumming, surf-bumming, doing wildlife surveys in the canyons of Utah, and joining the Peace Corps in Ecuador, eventually ending up broke and homeless in Santa Cruz. He felt lucky to find a job at the Bonny Doon Vineyard, where his first harvest hooked him on winemaking. He joined Big Basin Vineyards, an acclaimed Santa Cruz Mountains producer, as vineyard manager and assistant winemaker for four years. In 2008, he and his wife Heather decided to move to Monterey County and strike out on their own – And the rest…. is history!
Bates Ranch is located in the extreme southeastern end of the Santa Cruz Mountains appellation. I-Brand receives the fruit from half of a small block of Cabernet Franc planted in 1978. 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. So almost 40 year old vines!
I-Brand 2015 Cabernet Franc “Bates Ranch” Santa Cruz Mountains
Retail 50.00 – GGWC 47.99
FREE SHIPPING on 6
Use code IBRAND during checkout
A lot of people don’t know Cab Franc, and take it for granted. For most it is just another blending grape, but once you get hooked – you’ll see the real inside! The 2015 I-Brand Cabernet Franc shows a gorgeous aroma that jump out of the glass on impact. The wine is medium to full in body with a silky smoothness as well as luscious feel. The wine is elegant with ripe forward fruit flavors, a slight undertone of sage, balanced with good acid (not overwhelming at all) and beautiful red-and black stone fruits. I highly recommend decanting this youngster for 60-90 minutes before serving. Only 4 barrels (94 cases) produced!
Also check out their “Monte Bello” I-Brand 2014 Cabernet “Monte Bello” Santa Cruz Mountains
Napa Valley has become synonymous with great California Cabernet Sauvignon. But I’d argue that the state’s greatest and most distinctive cab is not all from Napa, but from a special ridge high in the Santa Cruz Mountains from a vineyard called Monte Bello. As you know Ridge Winery has been working with this vineyard for almost 50 years. I-Brand got their hands on a small parcel (211 cases produced), and it is a real jewel!
Click here or on the links above to order!