We have gotten our mitts on this fruit only once before (2018) and it was a signature year for our Albarino program. This time we got enough to build a new Edna Valley Albarino Program around it (as opposed to our traditional SLO Coast offering). It's delightfully clean emphasizing the crisp fruit and excellent refreshing acidity. This belies the complexity of the components. Four distinctly different Albariños blended seamlessly into another Brecon Classic.

93 pts. Doug Wilder, Free run Juice. April 2024

The memorable name is a doff of the caving helmet to some impressive discoveries made in Ogof (Welsh for cave) Draenen that our founding winemaker was involved in. Apparently, they were quite literally sitting down to munch on their last sandwich, when they spied an unseen way on. Ironically, this blend came about in much the same way. He had tried blending both this particular rich, oily, Viognier, and crisp, refreshing, Albarino every which way with other varietals but finally hit upon blending them together while fighting over the last chicken tikka panini. Which, as you might expect, paired delightfully well.

96 pts. CA State Fair, April 2024

94 pts. Doug Wilder, Free Run Juice, May 2024

93 pts. Pacific Rim Wine Competition, May 2024

92 pts. Orange County Wine Competition, June 2024

Sometimes you just have to take things really, really easy. Once said an 80’s seductive, animated, Cadbury’s Chocolate bunny! Excellent marketing BTW, and not unlike our Rosé winemaking philosophy. Harvest was desperately late, yet we still took our time. We took it so easy that we bottled a whole two months tardy. The resultant report card is a refreshing white cherry/berry medley, it's a dry, dry Bordeaux-inspired, oh so, refreshing rosé. With a lightness of touch that comes directly from fifty plus year old Cabernet Sauvignon grapes. Perhaps you can indeed teach an old vine to mellow in time. Oh, and the marketing Gurus even had time to dress it in a fancy schmancy new seductive couture bottle. Relax, watch grass dry and paint grow, enjoy.

90 pts. James Suckling, September 2024

The Budgie is back! Brecon’s infrequent version of “cross border diplomacy.” This old world genre-busting blend was secretly conceived as far away from the U.N. as possible. (Bondi Beach, the spiritual home of said Budgie Smuggler) by our often less than diplomatic vinomaker. Blending proceeded with representatives from Bordeaux, the Rhone and Northern Spain. Strangely the final Budgie Smuggler would be most at home on the Iberian peninsula as it is more reminiscent of a complex, spicy, cigar box, leathery but elegant Spanish red!

At the last fellowship of the “Feral Underclass” blending meeting held under the pergola in the backyard of Brecon's swanky Intergalactic headquarters, (BTW, the sole planetary grower is too much of a refined gentleman to grace us with his presence), our exalted grand Poobah of the Estate asked “Who can explain its lush, dark fruit smoothness, bright complexity with layers of peppery spice?. While knowing it's made with two non “noble” grape varieties (Petite Sirah/Zinfandel)” and furthermore, fermented with some rather wild feral yeast in coarse grain barrels? But all of the assembled Breconites had that strangely familiar “abducted by aliens” look in their eyes.

90 pts. Vinous, July 2024

92 pts. James Suckling, September 2024

“Open are the double doors of the horizon. Unlocked are its bolts. Clouds darken, the stars rain down, the constellations stagger and the bones of the hell hounds tremble”. 

This interpretation of an ancient hieroglyphic is a little contested, but we think the “Walk Like An Egyptian” circa 1330 BC might have been much better at announcing new releases, such as this stunning Malbec, than some of the muppets who influence online wine sales these days. Or in more modern English a cosmically dark beast of a wine that makes quite the entrance and perhaps pairs well with a instagramable 360 panorama.

Tiny serendipitous moments made this a wonderful offering. Like pressing late as you had run out of tank space and using the Tango Malbec yeast as its all that was left on the shelf. We really did throw out the Winemaking book of not entirely useful advice. BTW Said book is penned by upstanding members of the Leguminati. Secret handshakes and all that. So understandably all our reds are Vegan friendly. And yes, every year our Meritage blend differs which makes our wine lively, integrated, and organoleptically interesting. Like a mad scientist, mixing components to balance acid, flavor, tannin and oak, our winemaker has done it again!

Think you are stepping out of your comfort zone with Mourvèdre? Think again! Mourvèdre has been the backbone of many collectible Rhône wines for centuries. It's French, so it's rarely on the label! However, in Paso, it shines with dark enigmatic fruit, rich mouthfeel, and beguiling color. Brecon wines are all experiential so we encourage you to imbibe out of said zone. Hint: try with feet dipped in an icy mountain stream, baby fish nibbling at your toes. It sends shivers down your spine! Complemented by the warmth of the Mourvèdre, the earthy aromatics seem right at home near the forest floor. Guppies in a fish tank will never be the same!

91 pts. Vinous, July 2024

93 pts. James Suckling, September 2024

Shh, better be quiet around them… these old vines sure do hold 50 years of secrets. To tell you the truth, we even thought about not writing a tasting note, knowing it will sell out with a snap of the fingers. We even considered (for a fleeting moment) to let Chat GPT write this note for us. But as a whimsical wordsmith, I figured I shall not let technology take over this winery just yet! Since we have old vines, we might as well keep it old fashioned for a while longer. These smooth old rascals grow regally on its own Calcareous hilltop, creating lovely cherry-red, subtly fragrant, soft quality.

96 pts. CA State Fair, April 2024

Nefariously, I recently acquired a mountain cabin. An inspiring place to pen tasting notes. The view is spectacular as is the 70’s shag pile! The colors are amazingly bright and blend into each other seamlessly. You would never notice if you spilled this petite on it and it still tickles the tootsies, unlike some other wines I can mention. I seem to be blurring the boundaries between the vista, the Petite, and the shag. Must be the rarefied mountain air. I am sure you will work it out. What I am getting is a room filled with wonderful aromatics of fresh-cut violets and toasty oak. Note to self: save the rest of this oh-so-velvety, inky number to cherish while I hibernate in front of the fireplace this winter.

This wine honors a Major Milestone and perhaps is a nod to how time flies. It really has been ten crazy years since we purchased what is now Brecon Estate. Along the way we tried to take a path less traveled, picking up a somewhat colorful inner circle and rather unconventional influences. This special wine aims to reflect all this and improve on our ever popular “42” Rhone Blend, “the answer to life, the universe and everything.” A little more color, structure and silkiness, perhaps thanks to the addition of some tiny-berried Petite Sirah baby vines. Best saved for a special occasion or large family gathering. 

92 pts. James Suckling, September 2022
93 pts. purely domestic wine report, December 2022
91 pts. Vinous, May 2023