Need a locker-stocker? Or the perfect, lower-alcohol summer red?

Look no further! Big Basin is back, with their “gorgeous, minimalist wines” per Vinous. This 92 point red blend with “tremendous appeal” with “forward, juicy and wonderfully inviting” flavors.

And it’s yours, right now, for a tiny price.

Big Basin takes a minimalist intervention approach, and crafts some truly unique stuff. And although ‘the Basin may seem Big’ the production is small. Oh, and the press is BIG too. No matter the wine or the vintage or the vineyard, they consistently knock it out of the park. And for $22?!

Bradley Brown studied under John Alban. Oh, and so did Manfred Krankl of Sine Qua Non. It’s that kind of an inner circle of Rhône Rangers we’re in today.

This blend contains a little of everything but the kitchen sink with Carignan and Syrah making up the dominant half. There’s also diminishing amounts of Grenache, Mourvedre, and even Cabernet Sauvignon in there!

And trust us it WORKS. As Vinous said “myriad layers of nuance that open up effortlessly before you.” Chill it down a bit and knock it back effortlessly. Summer reds don’t get much better than this.

Antonio Galloni’s Vinous says it best: “Proprietor Bradley Brown and his team make gorgeous, minimalist wines from a number of sites, mostly in the Santa Cruz and Gabilan Mountains. Picking early for freshness, aging in neutral vessels, and a high percentage of whole clusters in the reds are some of the hallmarks of the house style.” And Jeb Dunnuck echoes that “Brown continues to fashion some incredible wines from a number of vineyards in the Central Coast. All of these new releases are noteworthy and have elegant, refined, and pure characters without losing a beat with regard to fruit or texture. They’re highly recommended.”

Problem is tiny quantities – you know the drill.

92 Points – Antonio Galloni’s Vinous

“The 2018 Homestead offers tremendous appeal. Sweet red cherry, blood orange, mint, spice and dried flowers infuse the 2018 with myriad layers of nuance that open up effortlessly. Forward, juicy and wonderfully inviting, the 2018 has so much to offer. It is a wine of immense pleasure, a terrific value and the kind of wine that disappears in an instant at the dinner table. In 2018, the blend is 33% Carignane, 25% Syrah, 21% Grenache, 19% Mourvèdre and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink 2020-2028.”