Paysan Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
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Wilfred
Wong
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Wilfred Wong of Wine.com
COMMENTARY: Wineries often grapple with this question: Do we produce a style of wine that most consumers will like our do we deliver the best vision of the grape variety? The 2017 Le P'tit Paysan Cabernet Sauvignon pulls no punches and is a true to the grape variety as can be. TASTING NOTES: This wine is pert, well-built and Old World in style. Its aromas and flavors of black currants, earth, and dried herbs and held together in a tight and elegant format. It should pair well with a pan-seared lamb chop. (Tasted: March 19, 2019, San Francisco, CA)
The Le P’tit Paysan label is ‘Village’ wines reimagined for California. They take vineyards and lots that, for whatever reason, aren’t ready to stand on their own and we compose them into terroir specific, eminently drinkable wines that belong on your table. These wines are made with the same attention to detail that graces our single vineyard offerings, specific site selection, open top fermentation (reds) or whole cluster pressing (whites), a focus on endemic fermentations, no enzymes, no fining, gentle filtration only as needed. Easy to drink but subtly serious, easy to pair but lovely on their own, demurring complexity, bright acidity, clean and fresh as the ocean air that blows in daily off the Monterey Bay.
Ian and Heather Brand began their family winery with pennies and a dream in 2007 while working in the cellars, vineyards and management of other wineries. In 2008, they moved to Salinas in Monterey County so Ian could focus on the winery while consulting, hustling and doing whatever work came his way. In 2010 they leased out half of an existing winery. In 2013 they built out their own production space in the industrial district of Salinas. They’ve expanded the space twice since then. Along the way, they’ve uncovered potential in regions and vineyards largely forgotten by the greater wine industry, grown fruitful relationships with local growers (while working tirelessly to promote low input and organic viticulture), and developed a winemaking style suited to the rocky, windswept Monterey Coast. In 2018, Ian was named the San Francisco Chronicle Winemaker of the Year.
Covering the most vine acreage in the state compared to any other red wine variety, Cabernet Sauvignon produces as much wine in California as Merlot and Pinot Noir combined. The state’s diverse terrain and microclimates, as well as the freedom of its winemakers, allow for an incredible range of wine styles from this single grape.
California’s most famous region—and especially for Cabernet Sauvignon—is the acclaimed Napa Valley. While Cabernet is successful throughout the world, rarely has it achieved such merit as it does from the Napa Valley. At this point the two are so intrinsically linked that it is difficult to discuss one without the other.
Napa’s closest neighbor, Sonoma County, does an impressive job keeping up with Napa’s fame and glory. Alexander Valley, Sonoma Mountain, Moon Mountain and Knights Valley contribute to the lot of some of California’s top-rated Cabernet Sauvignon.
Lake County in California’s North Coast has become a focus for some of Napa’s more respected growers. From the Central Coast come iconic examples of classic California Cabernet; Lodi and the Sierra Foothills are great budget-friendly sources of amicable Cabernets.