Taste of Humboldt - Briceland Wines

I visited Briceland last year on a Lost Coast surf trip and was really impressed with the wines. Andrew Morris, winemaker, is an awesome dude so he sent me a bunch of wines recently. I was stoked to revisit them. The ones I had had previously had only improved, while the other wines excited as well.

For more information, check out my piece last year on Briceland and Humboldt Wine: http://www.terroirist.com/2016/11/wine-in-the-wilderness-exploring-humboldts-lost-coast/

• 2016 Briceland Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc Reserve 91 Points

  USA, California, North Coast, Humboldt County

  Love this stuff! Bursts with grapefruit, sea salt, lemon curd, spicy oregano, cut grass and sea breeze. Brisk and bright on the palate but I love the rich textural elements in this wine. Green melon, orange, lemon, apricot, the fruit is met with salt, chalk, mineral-driven complexity, with oregano, herbal tea, honeysuckle. No one element dominates, this is a harmonious and complex Sauvignon Blanc.

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• 2016 Briceland Vineyards Arneis Spirit Canyon Vineyard 91 Points

  USA, California, North Coast, Mendocino County

  Lovely aromatics and white peaches and yellow and white flowers, some lemon zest and spicy white pepper notes. So pretty on the palate, beautiful textural depth but nervy acidity. Lots of orange, kiwi, apricot and lemon fruit laced with chalky minerals and ocean spray, some floral and spicy undertones. A really exciting interpretation of this grape, which you don’t see much of in California.

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• 2016 Briceland Vineyards Gewürztraminer Ishi Pishi Ranch 90 Points

  USA, California, North Coast, Humboldt County

  Bursting tropical aromatics of pineapple, kumquat, lychee, baby’s breath, dandelion. Dry and lovely waxy texture on the palate with bright acidity. Lots of floral-herbal complexity, honey, waxy notes, all blending nicely with the kumquat, white peach, apricot fruit. Lovely, vibrant stuff, super spicy and rich but dry, this is killer.

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• NV Briceland Vineyards Rosé of Pinot 88 Points

  USA, California, North Coast, Humboldt County

  Very pale watermelon color. Pretty aromatic display of strawberries, wild raspberries, nettle, rose hips, white tea. Medium-bodied, vibrant, lip-acidity frames the wine nicely, supported by strawberry and red apple peel. Some spicy herbal tea, lemon verbena, nettle and rose hip elements add complexity. Definitely more on the spicy herbal end of the rose spectrum, but I find this delicious and intriguing. Not every day I find a non-vintage rose, let alone one that is good, but this sure is.

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• 2012 Briceland Vineyards Pinot Noir Reserve 90 Points

  USA, California, North Coast, Humboldt County

  Spicy and beefy on the nose with pickles and pepper on top of juicy cherry and red plum fruit. On the palate, impressive depth and structure to the tannins, refreshing acidity. Black cherry and pomegranate fruit laced with black pepper, sage, charcoal, smoky earth. Lots of depth for aging, but really delicious right out of the gate.

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• 2013 Briceland Vineyards Pinot Noir Phelps Vineyard 92 Points

  USA, California, North Coast, Humboldt County

  Pretty ruby color. So pretty and floral and spicy on the nose, with rose petals, rhubarb, eucalyptus, pine tree, on top of fresh red cherries and raspberries. On the palate, crisp acidity frames the wine wonderfully, but there’s a solid backdrop from the tannins. Red cherry, pomegranate, raspberry, the fruit is fresh and chilled but juicy, and this is laced with rose petals, sweet herbs, wet earth. Lovely now, lots of years of improvement ahead.

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• 2014 Briceland Vineyards Pinot Noir 91 Points

  USA, California, North Coast, Humboldt County

  A deeper ruby color. Black cherries burst on the nose, juicy raspberries, rose petals, some cola and sweeter herb notes here, but also a rich, wet soil note. On the palate, this is so fresh and juicy with lots of ripe cherries and raspberries, mixed with cola, rose petals — a lot of complexity in here, and the structure to age from solid tannic grip.

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• 2014 Briceland Vineyards Pinot Noir Ronda's Vineyard 93 Points

  USA, California, North Coast, Humboldt County

  Deep ruby color. Aromas of suave cherries and raspberries, with rose petals and clove, some creosote and bay leaf kind of notes that are really attractive. Silky texture despite power from the tannins, there’s such refreshing acidity in this wine. Cool raspberry and red plum fruit, laced with savory spice and herb notes (tobacco, rose hips, clove, bay leaf, pepper), and some dark, earthy mineral tones as well. I’d love to see where this goes in three to five years. Wow, this is gorgeous stuff.

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• 2014 Briceland Vineyards Pinot Noir Alderpoint Vineyard 93 Points

  USA, California, North Coast, Humboldt County

  Medium ruby color. Gorgeous aromatics of cherry cola, wild raspberry, red apple peel, and a complex variety of sweet herbal/floral and spicy/savory elements: roses, rhubarb, raspberry leaf, black tea, clove, pepper – lots to unpack. Vibrant acidity, medium tannic grip, the balance is really solid here. The fruit is so pretty and delicious, cherries, plums, raspberries, McIntosh apple, and mixed with leathery, spicy elements and deeper floral/earth tones. Such complexity here and lots of time for the cellar.

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• 2014 Briceland Vineyards Zinfandel Ishi Pishi Ranch 91 Points

  USA, California, North Coast, Humboldt County

  Bright ruby color. Smells so pretty with bright red fruits (red apple, tart cherries, raspberry) with lots of menthol, tar, wild herbs. On the palate this is silky and tangy with soft tannins, goes down easy but the complexity is impressive. Raspberries and cherries mix with spice cake, clove, violets and pepper. Delicious stuff, so tangy and lively. I’d never guess this as a Zin if tasted blind.

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• 2015 Briceland Vineyards Zinfandel Dark Horse Vineyard 90 Points

  USA, California, North Coast, Mendocino County

  Medium ruby color. Nose shows cherries and currants mixed with clove, spiced tea and raspberry leaf. Juicy, fresh and lively on the palate with smooth tannins and crisp acidity. Raspberry and black cherry fruit mixes so well with flavors of cola, earth, leather, roses and clove. Delicious stuff.

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• 2014 Briceland Vineyards Syrah Dark Horse Vineyard 90 Points

  USA, California, North Coast, Mendocino County

  Smoky aromas with herbs and pepper and dark plums. Fresh on the palate, moderate tannic backbone, the wine is packed with black cherries, tart plums. I get notes of earth, pepper, sage. This is a saucy but tart Syrah.

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• 2014 Briceland Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Ishi Pishi Ranch 90 Points

  USA, California, North Coast, Humboldt County

  Aromas of juicy black currants, sweet cocoa, leather, spiced tea, grilled herbs – nice! Sturdy tannins, medium acidity, well-framed with flavors of black cherries and dark plums. Bright but nicely structured with delicious savory, herbal, earthy and leathery tones. I’d love to bury this for four to six years.

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• 2013 Briceland Vineyards Petit Verdot Ishi Pishi Ranch 91 Points

  USA, California, North Coast, Humboldt County

  Aromas of dark plums, tart black cherries, I love the complex elements of cocoa, charcoal, pepper, spiced black tea – lovely complexity in here. Tart but structured on the palate, although this isn’t hardened or rigid like a lot of young PV can be. Bright currant and roasted fig fruit mixes well with savory spice and earthy/charcoal elements. Lovely stuff, will continue to evolve for quite some time.

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