| Grapes
aren’t the only thing in the press at Brander.
Sometimes it’s a much anticipated release of
a special wine, a mention of the wines in the wine
magazines or at other times a bit of news about the
people or happenings at the winery.
You can read all of the latest right
here. Check back often, or better yet, sign up for
the newsletter by clicking here!
April 2008
Best American Wines $15
& Under: Sauvignon Blanc
Fred Brander has been specializing in Sauvignon Blanc
for three decades, making him one of the pioneering
winemakers in California’s Santa Ynez Valley.
Brander makes several terrific higher-end Sauvignon
Blanc cuvées, but this spicy basic bottling—to
which he adds a portion of Pinot Blanc and Riesling
for complexity—gives a fine idea of his style.
Click here
to read the complete article.

May 2007
"90 Points Brander
Syrah Santa Ynez Valley 2005
A delightfully rich Syrah that's also elegant and
stylish, offering layers of wild berry, earth, spice
and light cedary oak. The fruit shines on the finish,
with smooth, supple tannins. Drink now through 20011.
500 cases made."
James Laube
December
2006
Brander 2005 Purisima
Mountain Sauvignon Blanc
From one of California's greatest Sauvignon Blanc
producers comes this very interesting wine from a
well-regarded part of the appellation. It's a big
wine, packed with concentrated citrus, fig, melon
and peppery spice flavors. With fresh acidity, it's
right up there with the best. Editors' Choice

Fall 2006
Wine and Dine Santa Barbara
turned the spotlight on Fred Brander in its Fall 2006
edition, and, anticipating the 2006 Sauvignon Blanc
Early Release, they noted:
"A blend of grapes from
Brander’s own Los Olivos estate and 10 other
Santa Ynez Valley vineyards, this very young wine
really is a barometer of the year’s crop. The
2006 edition of this wine, ideally released in time
for the Thanksgiving holiday, has “a lot of
body, crisp acidity and fresh fruit character,”
the winemaker says."
Click here
to read the complete article.

August 2006
The Brander Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc
2005 was selected as the Daily Wine Pick by Wine
Spectator online:
"Intense, vibrant and clean
as a whistle, with fresh quince, lemon-lime and freshly
cut grass. Picks up a nice stony mineral edge on the
finish. Drink now." - James Laube

May 2006
92 points 2004 Au Naturel
"California's top Sauvignon Blanc specialist
continues on a roll with this wonderfully pure, clean
wine. It's crisp and bone dry in gooseberry, lemon,
lime and fig flavors, with an intense cassis flavor
that's unusual and thrilling in a dry Sauvignon Blanc.
You'll savor every sip of this exceptional wine."
Best Buy 2005 Early
Release
On of the first wines of the new vintage, this nouveau-style
wine is ultrafresh and fruity. It has peppery, zesy
acidity and intense flavors of limes, kiwi, figs and
vanilla. Utterly refreshing and dry, this is a wine
to stock up on.

May 18, 2005
In a review of American Sauvignon
Blanc wines, the New York Times said "Perhaps
people realize that sauvignon blanc generally goes
much better with food than the prevailing blowzy style
of American chardonnay."
"In fact, the most recent vintage
in the tasting, a 2004 Brander labeled "Early
Release," was our best value. It was just $14,
but its zesty freshness makes it a crowd-pleaser."
"Zingy and fresh, with lingering
flavors; not complex but delicious."
Click here
to read the full article (free sign-up required)

June, 2005
Sauvignon Blanc au Naturel,
Santa ynez Valley, 2003
A flash of habanera pepper cuts through the full melon
and almond flavors of this wine. Is has a sweet-sour
balance for veal schnitzel.
Cuvée Nicholas, Santa
Ynez Valley 2003
Green pepper scents fill the far texture of this sauvignon,
the flavors sweet and more focused on vegetal tones
than fruit. Chill it for seafood enchiladas.

May 2005
Cuvée Nicolas Santa Ynez
Valley 2003 – 91 points
Generous and concentrated, with excellent intensity
to yellow apple, grapefruit and nectarine tones. Cedary
oak and grass flavors extend through the lingering,
anise-scented finish. Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon.
Drink now through 2007.
Sauvignon Blanc au Naturel,
Santa Ynez Valley, 2003 - 90 points
Delivers a focused beam of tart citrus, green apple,
grass and passion fruit flavors. A tight core of concentration
bodes well, with tangy grapefruit and nectarine tones
that stay lively through the finish. Drink now through
2007.
Cuvée Natalie, Santa
Ynez Valley 2004 - 86 points
Soft, with easy-drinking flavors of yellow apple,
orange and flowers that finish with a touch of sweetness.
Drink now.
September 2004
Sauvignon Blanc, Santa Ynez
Valley, 2003
Smart Buy. Focused, with a formidable
swath of ripe green apple, peach, hay and grapefruit
flavors. 89 points
Cuvée Nicolas, Santa
Ynez Valley 2002
Ripe and generous, with very good depth to a broad
swath of vanilla, tangy nectarine, pear and grapefruit
peel nuances, with lingering grassiness and cedary
character. 89 points
Sauvignon Blanc au Naturel,
Santa Ynez Valley, 2002
Complex, with an interesting blend of green apple,
sweet pea, grass and lemon-lime nuances that finish
on a grassy note. 87 points
Cuvée Natalie, Santa
Ynez, 2002
A delightful summer sipper, soft and fleshy, with
good depth to the honey and yellow apple flavors,
ending with a spicy medley of fruit flavors.

August 2004
Sauvignon Blanc au Naturel,
Santa Ynez Valley, 2002
Firm and crisp, with a fine-tuned array of grapefruit,
spice, melon, lemon, herb, grass and mineral flavors.
It's sleek, clean and fresh, with a long, bright finish.
91 points
Cuvée Nicholas, Santa
Ynez 2002
Lemony bright upfront with melon, pear, herb and hints
of grass. It's got a slightly honeyed note on the
finish. Classy Sauvignon Blanc. 89 points
Sauvignon Blanc, Santa Ynez
Valley, 2003
Redolent of citrus, melon, herb and grass, the wine
is clean and fresh, with a finish that is moderate
in length. Good wine at a good price. 87 points.
|