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Bravium, Pinot Noir, Wiley Vineyard

Other, United States 2013 (750mL)
$29.00
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Alcohol

Bravium, Pinot Noir, Wiley Vineyard


Bravium, which translates from Latin to, “reward, prize or gift,” was created by proprietor and winemaker, Derek Rohlffs. After environmental studies at UC Santa Barbara and winemaking coursework at UC Davis, Derek ventured abroad to Europe and Australia in an effort to hone his winemaking skills. He founded Bravium in 2007 with a credo to produce terroir-driven Burgundian varietals in mountainside, cool-climate locales; that he has done is spades. His incredibly boutique, small production wines deliver traditional, balanced Pinot Noir and Chardonnay that are a true gift and rarity in the state thanks to his emphasis on carefully tended and selected terroir and his dedication to the, “less is more,” approach.
 
One of the coolest sites in the deep end, the Wiley Vineyard rests at an elevation of 525 feet on a gentle, southeast-facing slope with Bearwallow-Wolfey soils that are comprised of shale, quartz and sandstone. Perched on either side of a beautiful ridgeline overlooking the surrounding forest just ten miles from the Pacific, this parcel delivers pristine fruit with pitch-perfect acidity and a classic expression of the varietal. The hand-sorted fruit is 85% de-stemmed and cold soaked for five days prior to spontaneous fermentation from natural yeasts in one-ton fermenters. The wine is then pressed into four-year-air-dried Francois Freres barrels, one-sixth of which are new. This wine is aged separately, according to blocks, for ten months prior to blending and is bottled unfiltered and unfined. The result is a poised Pinot Noir that greatly over-delivers for the price point.  
 
This high-toned coastal Pinot Noir exhibits a light ruby core with pink reflections on the rim. The perfumed nose seduces with aromas of wildflowers, wet rose petals and huckleberry laced with unripe strawberry, pomegranate, subtle grape stems, wet forest floor, wet moss, a kiss of star anise and myriad baking spices that are perfectly integrated. The medium-bodied palate is bright and savory, mirroring the nose with additional flavors of freshly picked wild berries, wet flowers, forest floor and finely crushed minerals that drive the long, satisfying finish. This wine is in no way the ripe, fruit-forward Pinot that is more prevalent in California. The elegant wine is balanced, poised and restrained in the best sense and delivers precisely the expression of the varietal that I love to drink. Decant this wine for thirty minutes and serve in Burgundy stems at 65-70 degrees; the warmer this wine is served, the more fruit you will experience in the glass. Serve with this pomegranate-glazed salmon recipe or save a few bottles for Thanksgiving and prepare a pomegranate-brined turkey for an unforgettable holiday feast.
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Country
United States
Region
Other
Sub-Region
United StatesMendocino County
Soil
Franciscan Sandstone
Farming
Sustainable
Blend
Pinot Noir
Alcohol
12.5
OAK
Partial New French

United States

Washington

Columbia Valley

Like many Washington wines, the “Columbia Valley” indication only tells part of the story: Columbia Valley covers a huge swath of Central
Washington, within which are a wide array of smaller AVAs (appellations).

Oregon

Willamette Valley

Oregon’s Willamette Valley has become an elite winegrowing zone in record time. Pioneering vintner David Lett, of The Eyrie Vineyard, planted the first Pinot Noir in the region in 1965, soon to be followed by a cadre of forward-thinking growers who (correctly) saw their wines as America’s answer to French
Burgundies. Today, the Willamette
Valley is indeed compared favorably to Burgundy, Pinot Noir’s spiritual home. And while Pinot Noir accounts for 64% of Oregon’s vineyard plantings, there are cool-climate whites that must not be missed.

California

Santa Barbara

Among the unique features of Santa Barbara County appellations like Ballard Canyon (a sub-zone of the Santa Ynez Valley AVA), is that it has a cool, Pacific-influenced climate juxtaposed with the intense luminosity of a southerly
latitude (the 34th parallel). Ballard Canyon has a more north-south orientation compared to most Santa Barbara AVAs, with soils of sandy
clay/loam and limestone.

California

Paso Robles

Situated at an elevation of 1,600 feet, it is rooted in soils of sandy loam and falls within the Highlands District of the Paso Robles AVA.

New York

North Fork

Wine growers and producers on Long Island’s North Fork have traditionally compared their terroir to that of Bordeaux and have focused on French varieties such as Cabernet Franc and Merlot.

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