Brassfield Estate Eruption Red Blend 2022

91 Points, Wine Enthusiast

Brassfield Estate sits in the High Valley AVA of Lake County at elevations between 1,800 and nearly 3,000 feet. Only about 1% of the world’s vineyards operate at this height. The estate completely surrounds a dormant volcano called Round Mountain, and the vines grow in a rare mix of volcanic gravel, tephra, ash and Franciscan shale that forces them to struggle and produce small, incredibly concentrated grapes with a distinct mineral character you simply cannot replicate anywhere else. The Eruption Red Blend comes roaring right out of the gates with power and energy. Blackberry, boysenberry, chocolate and licorice on the nose followed by plum, cassis and star anise on the finish. This is a serious, structured red from a place most people have never heard of.