2015 I. Brand & Family Winery, Cabernet Franc, Bagly Ranch, Paicines.
Ian Brand’s latest release is a killer Chinon like Cabernet Franc, showing the vintage’s concentration, but with lovely varietal character and absolutely gorgeous length and detail, this is a stunning California wine! Tasted with Ian at his tasting room in Carmel Valley, while he was spinning some soulful vinyl and regaling a few music and wine lovers just made the whole experience that more intriguing and fun. The 2015 Cabernet Franc Bagly Ranch Vineyard starts with lush red berry, framboise notes, spice and floral tones, this dark garnet hued young red really fills the palate with layers of dense fruit, with a core of raspberry, plum, black cherry and mulberry as well as a hint of classic bell pepper, crushed violets, fennel and mineral. A small yield adds to the lavish mouth feel and full bodied texture and the subtle wood really brings out the Loire styling in this fabulous wine. If you’ve not discovered Monterey’s Ian Brand yet, you need to try his wines, from his P’Tit Paysan Rhone Blend Style wines to his La Marea varietal wines, like his outstanding Albarino and Old Vine Grenache, but for that bit more exclusive enthusiast, you need to taste the I. Brand & Family line, with this Cabernet Franc and the Mourvedre leading the way, these are truly great offerings! Drink this Bagly Cab Franc over the next 3 to 10 years, though I love it’s youthful expression right now, it should gain with bottle age, it’s kick ass stuff.
($40 Est.) 94 Points, grapelive
