2011 Homestead

Proprietor Bradley Brown crafts some of the most compelling, small-production artisan wines in California's Central Coast. With each passing year, the wines are more refined and polished, making Big Basin one of the most dynamic up and coming wineries in the state. The 2012s are the most promising young wines I have tasted from Big Basin. Harvests have moved up slightly, the use of whole clusters is up and there is more attention to cooperage, all of which bode well for the future. As always, the approach at Big Basin emphasizes native fermentations and malos with extended macerations and only moderate amounts of new oak. Brown felt a few of the Rhone-variety wines need a few additional months in bottle, so I will report on those wines after the summer.