A Woman-Owned and operated wine brand applying science to Sonoma County Wines.
By Sedale McCall
Along your wine journey, staying up-to-date on the latest trends and discovering new and exciting blends is essential. That’s where Uncorked Wine Reviews comes in – we provide you with our top 5 fundamental approaches to making informed decisions about your next bottle to uncork. We will not only celebrate and promote women and minority winemakers but also dive into the wines themselves. Each wine review will highlight a different winemaker, then rate a specific wine from their portfolio. The ratings are based on the following criteria:
5 Ways to Wine Rating Criteria
- Appearance: How does it take shape and color in the glass? Does it invite you in? Does the color make you want to drink it?
- Balance: Is anything out of place? Balance ratings focus on the wine’s structure, including acid, alcohol, sweetness, body, and tannins (for red wines).
- Food Friendliness: Does this pair well with a lot of different foods?
- Typicity: Does it match what you expect from that grape in that region?
- Overall Enjoyment: Overall, is it an enjoyable glass? This is emphasized over the other criteria!
The beginning of this series kicks off with a woman-owned wine brand. It begins with Bruliam Wines, owned and operated by Kerith Overstreet, which must never be mistaken for beryllium.
Bruliam Wines 2021 Sangiacomo Pinot Noir – Kerith Overstreet
Kerith is a “triple-threat: winemaker, former medical doctor, and mom to three kids” in Sonoma County’s Petaluma Gap. She’s making delicious wines that give you a sense of the region. Bruliam Wines is named after her children, Bruno, Lily, and Amelia. It also sounds like an element that Kerith leans into. Her style is very scientific but elegant, combining to make some amazing wines. This small, woman-owned business has grown to more than 1,000 cases a year. Her portfolio includes Sonoma County classics like Zinfandel, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir.
The 2021 Sangiacomo Pinot Noir is from the cool climate of the Petaluma Gap, full of fog. It’s 100% Pinot Noir, aged in 35% new French oak for ten months, then aged in the bottle for seven months. Time well spent!
Appearance: Beautiful pale Ruby color, bright, clear, and youthful. It’s inviting you to have a glass with a loved one. It’s pretty from the first pour to the last.
Balance: Pretty well balanced, medium+ acid, medium alcohol, and dry. The body is rather light, you might expect, even from Pinot Noir, and tannins are almost non-existent, but it still works well.
Food Friendliness: It’s Pinot Noir, so it’s very versatile. The lightness of the body and lack of tannins might take a couple of options away, but it works for just about everything.
Typicity: It’s exactly what you’d expect from a Sonoma County Pinot Noir. This is a bottle you’d want for blind tastings or exam prep for sure!
Overall Enjoyment: Such a beautiful wine. The palate is delicate and light but so balanced. It’s hard to describe, but it feels like a hug from a dear friend. Grab as many as you can afford.
Score: 9.5
With our in-depth reviews and unique perspectives, you’ll always have something new and exciting to try. Stay tuned for the next review, where we look at a rose sparkling wine from Las Del Vino.
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