“Gorgeous, minimalist wines…” – Vinous

BIG DAY! BIG BASIN!

You have no idea how long we’ve been working, hoping, and begging to land these.

Leading off with THIS - a 96 point Syrah for nearly 50% OFF.

Not only are we BIG FANS, but the wines are also tremendous. And although ‘the Basin may seem Big’ the production is tiny. Oh, and the press is BIG too, always is with Big Basin, no matter what the wine or the vintage or the vineyard really, they consistently hit big, especially for these tiny prices we were able to get them to.

Back to the 96 points…

You know what other 2018 Syrah from this neck of the woods also earned a 96 from Vinous? A $345 one from Alban Vineyards. Do you think that’s a coincidence? It’s not.

Bradley Brown studied under John Alban. Oh, and so did Manfred Krankl of Sine Qua Non. It’s that kind of an inner circle of Rhône Rangers we’re in today.

And the wine shows it. Makes you scratch your head wondering how a wine can attain such intensity with elegance, grace, and BALANCE. Like a tightrope walker, the fresh green peppercorn tannins are in perplexing unity with gushes of blackberry jam, plum sauce, and hints of cardamom. Floral and mineral nuances fuse with a meaty, almost gamey edge, with a finish that pulls it all together with more fruits. This is a lesson in how to make Syrah that gets all the elements right and begs to be paired with equally hearty and complex dishes.

Antonio Galloni’s Vinous says it best: “Proprietor Bradley Brown and his team make gorgeous, minimalist wines from a number of sites, mostly in the Santa Cruz and Gabilan Mountains. Picking early for freshness, aging in neutral vessels, and a high percentage of whole clusters in the reds are some of the hallmarks of the house style.” And Jeb Dunnuck echoes that “Brown continues to fashion some incredible wines from a number of vineyards in the Central Coast. All of these new releases are noteworthy and have elegant, refined, and pure characters without losing a beat with regard to fruit or texture. They’re highly recommended.”

BOOM. If you’re still reading, we may be getting close to sold out.

96 Points – Antonio Galloni’s Vinous

“Bradley Brown and his team at Big Basin make a number of wines, but the Rhônes are the standouts. As always, the house style favors energy and freshness, with a healthy dose of clusters felt in the wines’ aromatic and structural profiles. There’s a ton to like here. The 2018 Syrah Coastview Vineyard - Terraces is one of the best wines I have tasted from Bradley Brown. All the elements are so well-balanced. Deep and fleshy, with terrific persistence, the 2018 has it all. The whole clusters are present but are strands in the fabric rather than a dominating element in the wine. Blueberry, lavender, menthol, licorice and cloves build into the deep, resonant finish as the 2018 shows off its captivating beauty. Drink 2023-2033.”