Brandon Gregory Illation Brookshire Vineyard Red Wine Knights Valley 2019

Just a stone’s throw away from Calistoga to the west lies the sleeping giant Sonoma AVA of Knights Valley.  Despite receiving appellation status in 1983, the area remains rural and remote, reminiscent of Napa Valley decades ago with its rustic, rolling acres of vineyards and only two tasting rooms.  If you’re a fan of Peter Michael, you know the terroir of Knights Valley well; yet outside of larger wineries, the region is relatively untapped by smaller producers.  Nevertheless, folks like Sky Devil and Chiron have hit the market and shown the potential that lies beneath these ancient volcanic soils.  And today, we’re thrilled to debut Brandon Gregory Estate, the newest family-owned label to embrace Knights Valley, and join the campaign to elevate its reputation and bring more oenophiles into the know.  

Named for vintners Brandon Muller and Gregory Roberts, this new estate was an afterthought in their journey to acquire a wine country home.  After years of collecting wine and dreaming of a second home nestled within acres of vineyards, the couple began their search and, through colleagues in the real estate world, were introduced to Knights Valley.  They fell in love with the pastoral feel and rugged landscapes and purchased their initial parcel of 621 acres in 2017.  They soon learned that the land was prime real estate for grapevines, so they planned a 22-acre vineyard planting named Helena Vista.  For some vintners, one property and vineyard would be sufficient.  Still, Brandon and Gregory’s adoration for Knights Valley grew, and they quickly added a historic 565-acre ranch with a 27-acre vineyard to their estate named Brookshire Vineyard, intending to enter the wine industry in a full-fledged way.

In the organic progression of one in the wine business, though, Brandon toyed with the idea of siphoning off the best of their vines to craft a wine under a family label.  So, he experimented with a homemade wine in 2018 sourced from his favorite block of Cabernet in the Brookshire Vineyard under the tutelage of their soon-to-be winemaker, Julien Fayard.  All it took was one vintage, and they were hooked, ready to open this next chapter of their lives as coveted grape growers and, more importantly, red wine producers.  Julien brings expertise to Brandon Gregory Estate, which is a cut above the rest.  Before acting as Director of Winemaking for Atelier Melka, Julien worked for the prestigious Châteaus Lafite-Rothschild and Smith Haut Lafite.  As a result, his repertoire expanded across Old-World and New-World techniques, and after leaving Atelier Melka, he launched his personal consultancy to put this know-how to use.  Between Julien Fayard and vineyard manager legend Jim Barbour (whose client list has included Hundred Acre, Checkerboard, and Alejandro Bulgheroni), the Brandon Gregory Estate is primed to launch into the stratosphere with their 2019 inaugural wines.

Illation is the flagship blend from Brandon Gregory’s Brookshire Vineyard and is comprised of 54.5% Cabernet Sauvignon (Montelena & 337 Clones) and 45.5% Cabernet Franc.  Julien selects the final blend with the fruit and site expression top of mind.  They produced only 120 cases of the first release, and after 21 months of aging in 75% new oak, the wine bottle aged for another 14 months.  There is a vibrant energy in the aromas with vivacity and intensity of the body; in other words, it is an intriguing yet rich red wine.  Close your eyes and breathe in the nose of black plum jam, chocolate-covered espresso beans, and newly tanned leather.  The silky and rounded tannins land on the front palate and provide a beautiful structure for the flavors of anise, powdered sage, and cherries.  The finish lingers for enjoyment which proves handy after the final sip when you’ll undoubtedly be craving more of this outstanding debut release from Knights Valley.