Bravium: Relish the Acidity
Bravium, Latin for “reward, price or gift,” is a winery featuring traditional, minimalistic winemaking by proprietor
Derek Rohlffs. Rohilffs is a graduate of University of California at Santa Barbara in Environmental Studies and
completed his winemaking course work at University of California at Davis. He has made wine since 2000 and
traveled to the wine regions of France, Italy and Australia to hone his craft. Derek told me he has been
inspired by the work of Kevin Harvey and Jeff Brinkman at Rhys Vineyards and Jeff has been a significant
influence on his winemaking.
Bravium features vineyard-designated and appellation-designated Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The winery is
located on Treasure Island in the middle of San Francisco Bay. Vineyard sources include Signal Ridge
Vineyard in the Mendocino Ridge AVA, the Beau Terroir Vineyard in Napa Carneros and other vineyards in
Sonoma Carneros.
Production is small (96 to 448 cases per wine) and the wines are sold direct to mailing list members and
through select retail outlets with some restaurant placements.
A portion of the profits from the sale of Bravium wines supports Sip & Give, Bravium’s charitable giving
campaign. Sip & Give features a roster of worthy charities that are funded by the public’s votes (visit the
webiste at www.bravium.com for more details). Simply put, Derek makes wine, you drink the wine, and
together, you both sip and give. Derek is also a Member of the Cherokee Nation and Bravium is a registered
TERO business.
Tasting is available at Treasure Island Wines, 995 9th Street, Treasure Island. Open Saturdays and Sundays
from 1:00 to 5:00.
This was the first time I came across Bravium Pinot Noir and I was very impressed by the consistently high
quality of each Pinot Noir bottling. The wines show deft integration of oak, judicious use of whole cluster
fermentation, pleasant aromatics, flavor without weight, and bright acidity for refreshing drinking. Derek
definitely has something going here and I would recommend the Pinot Noirs without reservations.
2011 Bravium Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
14.4% alc., pH 3.51, TA 0.60, 96 cases, $34. From the
Volamus Vineyard, located in the Petaluma Gap, and planted in 1999. Dense plantings of 115, 667
and Pommard. 100% de-stemmed, native fermentation, aged in 25% new 4-year air-dried Francois
Frères oak barrels. Unfined and unfiltered.
·
Moderately dark reddish-purple color in the glass.
Great nose with explosive aromas of black cherries, redwood and spice, holding up nicely over time
in the glass. Very soft in the mouth and highly flavorful with a core of black cherry and black
raspberry fruits, accented with notes of dark chocolate and spice, finishing with a refreshing edge of
citrus-driven acidity. Ready to go now. Very good.
2011 Bravium Volamus Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
14.2% alc., pH 3.45, TA 0.61, 96 cases, $34. 4,500 vines on 3.5
acres. Clones 115, 667 and Pommard farmed sustainably. Hand
pressed, 25% whole cluster, racked once after MLF, aged in 50%
new 4-year air-dried Francois Frères oak barrels. Unfined and
unfiltered.
·
Medium reddish-purple color in the glass. A more
serious, complex wine that will benefit from more time in the bottle.
The aromas open slowly in the glass to reveal hi-tone notes of dark berries,
spice, forest floor and a hint of vanilla. Dark berries are the featured fruit with
undertones of dark chocolate, clove and allspice, all wrapped in dry, chalky
tannins, finishing with razor sharp acidity. A little more body, nuance and class than the Sonoma Coast
bottling. Very good (+).
2011 Bravium Signal Ridge Vineyard Mendocino Ridge Pinot Noir
14.3% alc., pH 3.47,
TA 0.61, 288 cases, $34. The vineyard is on a steep mountainside three ridges in from the
Pacific Ocean at 2,642 feet elevation. Relatively shallow and rocky soils. Wide variety of
clones and selections including Pommard and Swan. Yields 0.65 tons per acre. 16% whole
cluster, 7-day cold soak. Native fermentation in one-ton fermenters. Aged 11 months in 33%
new 4-year air-dried Francois Frères oak barrels. Unfined and unfiltered.
·
Moderately light
reddish-purple color in the glass. Aromas of cherries, deep red rose petals and pine needle.
Tasty with good intensity, featuring flavors of black cherries black raspberries and pomegranates with a hint of
tea. Impeccable balance with mild tannins and juicy acidity, finishing with impressive intensity. Blossomed
beautifully the following day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle, displaying a dreamy, velvety mouth
feel and seductive flavors.
2011 Bravium Signal Ridge Vineyard Sundance Block Mendocino Ridge Pinot Noir
14.4% alc., pH 3.52,
TA 0.60, 96 cases, $39. Yields 0.65 tons per acre. 100% de-stemmed, 7-day cold soak, native fermentation,
aged in neutral French oak barrels. Unfined and unfiltered.
·
Moderately light reddish-purple color in the glass.
Nicely perfumed with aromas of dark red cherries and berries, fruit bin and mushrooms. A little riper and more
savory with flavors of black cherries, plum, spice and mushrooms. The tannins are soft and supple and the
finish is juicy and appealing. Very good.
2011 Bravium Signal Ridge Vineyard Jackpot Block Mendocino Ridge Pinot Noir
14.3% alc., pH 3.49,
TA 0.60, 72 cases, $39. Yields 0.65 tons per acre. 20% whole cluster, native fermentation, aged in 33% new
4-year air-dried Francois Frères oak barrels. 25% whole cluster, 7-day cold soak, native fermentation, aged in
66% new Francois Frères oak barrels. Unfined and unfiltered.
·
Moderately light reddish-purple color in the
glass. Aromas of cherries, cassis, spice and oak. Redder fruits are featured on a mid weight frame. Light and
juicy with supple tannins and a good finishing grip of acidity. Pleasant and easy to drink, but lacks a mid palate
and finishing punch of fruit. Good (+).
2011 Bravium Signal Ridge Vineyard Dragonfly Block Mendocino Ridge Pinot Noir
14.2% alc., pH 3.39, TA 0.634, 72 cases, $39. Yields
0.65 tons per acre. 25% whole cluster, 7-day cold soak, native
fermentation, aged in 66% new 4-year air-dried Francois Frères oak
barrels. Unfined and unfiltered.
·
Incredible nose that keeps pumping
out aromas of fresh dark berries over time in the glass. Delicious core
of black cherry and dark berry fruits, exotically spiced with a hint of
toasty oak in the background. A seamless wine with powdery tannins and a
finishing lift of decadent fruit that returns in waves for several encores. An
exceptionally dreamy wine.
2012 Bravium North Coast Rosé Wine
12.3% alc., pH 3.27, TA 0.697, 84 cases, $19, screwcap. 98% Pinot
Noir (Signal Ridge Vineyard) and 2% Chardonnay. Aged in both stainless tanks and neutral oak. Unfined.
·
Moderately light red color in the glass. Aromas of strawberry, cranberry, cherry, blood orange and floral tones.
Soft and perfumey on the palate, with flavors of strawberries, cherries, and red hard candy. Very fruity in style
with a subtle sweet character. Decent.
2010 Bravium Thomson Vineyard Napa Carneros Chardonnay
14.3% alc. pH 3.51, TA 0.6, 288 cases,
$24. Clones 17, 76, 96 and 97. Aged in a combination of oak barrels and tanks. Partial MLF. Unfined.
·
Very
light yellow color and clear in the glass. Aromas of lemon, nuts, honeysuckle and seasoned oak. Light, soft and
delicately flavored, with notes of pear, hazelnut and caramel. A well-crafted, but very understated style that just
didn’t grab my attention. Decent.
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