Ian Brand of I. Brand & Family is one of California's most respected winemakers, known for seeking out unique, heritage vineyard sites across the Central Coast. Bates Ranch, planted in 1968 on the eastern slopes of the Santa Cruz Mountains, sits at 1,000 to 1,400 feet on decomposed granite and clay soils. This historic, cool-climate mountain vineyard produces a distinct, old-school California Cabernet Sauvignon marked by moderate alcohol, vibrant acidity, and herbal-mineral tension.

The 2022 vintage highlights Brand's low-intervention philosophy: native yeast fermentation, minimal extraction, and extended maturation in neutral French oak barrels so the vineyard's mountain voice comes through unmasked. The 2022 Bates Ranch Cabernet displays classic cool-climate aromatics, tart red currants, cedar, dried bay leaf, graphite, and tobacco, backed by a chiseled structural frame that stands in contrast to heavier, oak-driven domestic Cabernet styles.

Why You'll Love It

• Single-vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon from historic 1970s mountain plantings in Santa Cruz.
• An old-school, restraint-driven California profile with low alcohol and bright natural acidity.
• Aromas of tart wild blackberries, dried bay leaf, pencil lead, cedar, and crushed gravel.
• Fine, grippy tannins make this an exceptionally food-friendly, cellar-worthy bottle.

How To Serve It

• Serve at cool room temperature between 58°F and 62°F.
• Decant for 45 to 60 minutes to open up its mountain herb and red fruit aromatics.
• Pour into Bordeaux stems to frame its structural lines and savory bouquet.
• Pair with grilled lamb chops, skirt steak with chimichurri, roasted duck, or a wild mushroom tart.