To my partner in wine,
I have a theory that the best wines are the ones that feel like a secret shared between friends. I recently came across a project called From Brent, and the name alone tells you exactly what you’re getting. We’re not talking big guys, no corporation take over or executive boardroom decisions. It’s a literal bottle from this guy named Brent Harrison, who would be the type of person who has a sign that says, “I like vines more than people.” 😂
Brent’s path into wine started with a college elective that was supposed to be a ‘fun’ way to get some credits. He was thinking, “hey, I can drink and get an “A” what could be better? I’m pretty sure he got the A because the class sent him down a rabbit hole that has led him to this brand. Sometimes the stars align and everything clears so that you can see a path you should be taking. For Brent, the stars aligned on a bus. Specifically a field trip to a Missouri winery, where his seat mate was Kaleb Willson, a well known and respected winemaker in Illinois.
The bus ride conversation would ultimately lead to a job offer. Brent would be taking care of an 8-acre vineyard of Chambourcin. During his “stay” he learned how to prune the vines and how to manage the vine canopy. Skills that sparked a deep passion for viticulture; plus it helped pay the bills. A true win-win.
Today, he’s set up shop at Cooper-Garrod Vineyards. He has found his niche producing minimal intervention wines. You know, letting the wine do what the wine wants to do! (of course he is a good parent and is watching over it) He uses native yeasts, skips the filtration, and lets the vineyard speak for itself.
Anyway, how I found him was because of my beloved Cabernet Franc. As you know, I’m a sucker for a good Cab Franc, and his definitely falls under that category. He sources the fruit from a site in the Santa Cruz Mountains called the Ascona Vineyard. This vineyard is not for the faint of heart. It sits at about 2,500 feet and is rugged. I think the vines have to take rock climbing lessons before they can begin to flourish. And flourish they do!
Because the vineyard is so high up, the fruit gets a serious workout from the elements. (and I’m sure Brent does too, you know at a half a mile up, I’m thinking the oxygen is a little harder to come by.) But Brent, loves it there and he doesn’t want to polish out the mountain character; he wants to bottle it. The result? A Cab Franc that doesn’t just taste like fruit—it tastes like high-altitude drama. Better drama than any soap opera we watched in college.
It’s got this incredible herbaceous spark of wild mountain sage, a hint of mint and minerality and a structure that reminds you exactly where it came from. It’s the kind of wine that makes you feel like you’ve hiked to the top of the peak to enjoy the incredible view. But you didn’t even have to put on your boots. Just sit back, pour a glass, and let Brent’s signature on the bottle tell you the rest of the story.
Besides the wine itself, I was immediately drawn to the label. It looks like something an old-world alchemist would have sketched by candlelight. Which makes perfect sense as this isn’t your standard ‘toss it in a tank’ winemaking. Brent crafted this wine through 100% whole cluster, letting 90% of the grapes hang out uncrushed for two days just to get their bearings. Then, after ten days of daily pump-overs, he literally crushed the grapes by foot. I’m not joking, it’s that hands-on, well foot-on. Because the grapes came in cool and stayed cool during their 24-day fermentation, the wine kept all that vibrant, mountain-air energy. He didn’t add yeast, didn’t fine it or filter it. He just let the vineyard do its thing, adding only a tiny bit of sulfites during barrel aging to keep it safe. I think Grizzly Adams would highly approve of the methodology and the result.
I felt compelled to send you this letter because in a world of mass-produced, boardroom-approved wines, finding something this honest feels like hitting the jackpot. (and you know how I love Vegas!) It’s rare to find a bottle that actually reflects the guy who made it. So, the next time you’re looking to open something that has a bit of soul and a lot of mountain grit, look for the bottle with the lion, grail, stars and the signature.
From,
Lori
P.S. If you want to see the alchemy for yourself, you can check out Brent’s latest releases at frombrentwineco.com.
~Slàinte!
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