2016 Brecon True Acacia Head (Library, Club Only!)
A single vineyard Albarino in disguise, (Read we forgot to put it in on the label). Actually consists of two of the three available clones from the oldest serious planting of Albarino. (Jack Ranch) in the Edna valley. Those pesky little winemakers at Brecon, ferment exclusively in Oak barrels with Acacia heads. Acacia can enhance floral notes and structure without adding vanilla the toasty notes associated with a Quercus species. Think white peach overtones with an underlying Zesty grapefruit. 100% Albarino, 100% 2016, 95% Jack Ranch, 5% Derby Vyd.
By the way, there are around 800 known species of true acacia. The Acacia used in barrels is not one of them. We just liked the name.
93 Pts. Purely Domestic Wine Report, Sept 2017
91 Pts. International Wine Review, Sept 2017
Brecon introduces a New! New! Wine Style… This feisty Central Coast Albarino is the latest addition to our family! The use of barrels with Acacia heads adds structure and enhances floral notes without the toastyness or vanillins associated with oak. It's certainly food friendly, refreshing, more in the grapefruit flavor spectrum with white peach overtones.
By the way, there are around 800 known species of true acacia. The Acacia used in barrels is not one of them. We just liked the name!
European Acacia (Robinia pseudoacacia) has been used in France for many generations on varietals such as Viognier or Sauvignon Blanc. In 2015 Brecon saw a natural affinity between these varietals and our cool coastal Albarinos. What then started as a winemaker's simple curiosity, a couple of Acacia head barrels locked up under the stairs A La Harry Potter, morphed into this exciting new wine style. Interestingly the use of barrels with Acacia heads adds structure and enhances floral notes without the toastiness or vanillins associated with oak.
| Vintage | 2016 |
| Varietal | Albarino |
| Varietal Composition | 100% Albarino
100% 2016
95% Edna Valley, Jack Ranch
70% Havens, 30% Kinnie Clones.
5% Templeton Gap. Derby Vyd
|
| Appellation | Central Coast |
| Vineyard | Jack Ranch |
| Acid | 0.7g/100ml |
| PH | 3.38 |
| Aging | Drink Now-2020 |
| Residual Sugar | 0.17g/100ml dry |
| Alcohol | 14.20% |
| Volume | 750 ml |
| Bottling Date | 03/30/2017 |
| Cases Produced | 504 |
We often have to print the labels well in advance to the final blending. Ultimately this wine could have be labeled as a single vineyard, Edna Valley offering. We are so lucky to have our grubby little mitts on what is the oldest serious planting of Albarino in the Central Coast. It contains three different clones. Our winemaker cunningly blends just two of them here (Havens and Kinnie) to produce this far richer than average Albarino. BTW. Too this day the original “Mr Kinnie” can be regularly found propping up the bar at Brecon reveling in our Albarino.
