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| Welcome to Ken Brown Wines, a small family winery focusing on Pinot Noir from select Santa Rita Hills vineyards. Pioneering winemaker, Ken Brown, produces very small lots from some of the region’s most highly acclaimed vineyards, including Cargasacchi, Clos Pepe and the historic Sanford & Benedict Vineyard. | Solvang, CA
Phone: 805-688-4482
Website: http://www.kenbrownwines.com
Appellation: Sta. Rita Hills
Tasting Room: To make an appointment to visit the winery contact: Deborah Brown @ 805-688-4482
Map to Ken Brown Wines
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Chardonnay
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2006 Chardonnay, Nielson Vineyard
Santa Maria Valley
This small bottling of Chardonnay comes from a vineyard I have worked with for more than 20 years. Planted by pioneer, Uriel Nielson in 1964, this property is Santa Barbara Countyâ ... more€™s oldest vineyard. The old vines are especially expressive, so a minimalist approach to winemaking allows the character and integrity of the fruit to shine through. The wine was 100% barrel fermented with native yeasts, and underwent 100% malolactic fermentation. This Chardonnay aged sur lie for 10 months in French oak, with 13% new oak in the barrel mix.
This Chardonnay is silky and elegant with fresh aromas of gala apple, lemon blossom and honeysuckle, which will gradually evolve into aromas of honey, pear and hazelnut as the wine develops. A rich mouth feel and opulent mid-palate are beautifully balanced by bright natural acidity, a trademark of Santa Maria Valley Chardonnay. The wine culminates in a silky, seamless finish.
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Chardonnay
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2005 Chardonnay, Sanford & Benedict Vineyard
Santa Rita Hills
Planted by Richard Sanford and Michael Benedict in 1971, this vineyard is the birthplace of the Santa Rita Hills appellation and helped bring recognition to the great potential of ... morethe region. This Chardonnay comes from the original vines planted to clone 108, which became the most widely planted Chardonnay clone in California. Situated on a north-facing slope, the vineyard is cooled by ocean breezes and coastal fog. The soil type is the Botella Series, a composition of both clay and loam with a high calcareous content, which drains well and helps keep yields low.
The old vines are especially expressive, so a minimalist approach to winemaking allows the character and integrity of the fruit to shine through. The grapes were hand picked and gently pressed as whole clusters. After settling in tank for 24 hours, the juice was racked to 60-gallon French oak barrels for fermentation. The wine was 100% barrel fermented with 100% malo-lactic fermentation. The Chardonnay aged sur lie for 11 months in French oak, with 10% new oak in the barrel mix.
Well balanced and harmonious, this Chardonnay is stylish and crisp with fresh aromas of white peach and green apple, accented
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Pinot Noir
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2005 Pinot Noir, Cargasacchi Vineyard
Santa Rita Hills
This small 16-acre vineyard has become one of the stars of the Santa Rita Hills appellation. Planted in 1998, the property features Clone 115 Pinot Noir planted on 3309 rootstock. ... moreThe vineyard is located at the extreme west end of Santa Rita Hills, where its proximity to the Pacific Ocean makes it one of the coolest vineyards in California. The soil type is the Botella Series, a composition of both clay and loam that has a fairly high calcareous content, which drains well and helps moderate yields.
Pinot Noir clusters from the Cargasacchi Vineyard were hand sorted before being de-stemmed and immediately chilled for a pre-fermentation cold soak where the most beneficial extraction of color, aroma and flavor occurs. During fermentation, concentration was enhanced by gently punching down the cap. As soon as the wine reached dryness, it was pressed and transferred to 60-gallon French oak barrels where it aged for 17 months. About 45% of the barrels were new French oak.
This Pinot Noir is deeply concentrated, seamless and complex—the combined result of pure vineyard expression, cellar complexity and oak barrel infusion. Rich aromas of wild blackberry and ripe plum a
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Updated on January 10, 2008
CrazyAboutWine recommends contacting Ken Brown Wines at http://www.kenbrownwines.com or calling 805-688-4482 to verify the winery's location.
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