Winemaker Notes
The majority of the Sauvignon Blanc Brander produces is fermented and aged in stainless steel. The Cuvee Nicolas is an exception. The team at Brander selects grapes from the estate with the perfect balance of richness and acidity to make this wine. The wine is fermented and aged in a combination of 500 liter and 225 liter French oak barrels (45% new) for five months.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Grapefruit-pith, dried orange-rind, white-pepper, lemon and hay aromas show on the nose of this bottling, named after proprietor Fred Brander's son. There's a solid grip to the sip, where wet cement, citrus-pith and waxy flavors align.
Sometimes light and crisp, other times rich and creamy, Bordeaux White Blends typically consist of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon. Often, a small amount of Muscadelle or Sauvignon Gris is included for added intrigue. Popularized in Bordeaux, the blend is often mimicked throughout the New World. Somm Secret—Sauternes and Barsac are usually reserved for dessert, but they can be served before, during or after a meal. Try these sweet wines as an aperitif with jamón ibérico, oysters with a spicy mignonette or during dinner alongside hearty Alsatian sausage.
Today it is an integral part of the greater Santa Barbara County wine region, but at one time the village, Los Olivos, was a stop on the Wells Fargo stagecoach line.