The Brown Estate tasting room resides in this beautifully renovated 1859 barn.

Brown Estate is a Zinfandel specialist with a winery and estate vineyards in the Chiles Valley AVA of Napa Valley. It’s family-owned and operated and was the first Black-owned winery in Napa Valley. The wines are very good, the estate lovely and the hospitality excellent.

Bassett Brown and his wife, Marcela Abrahams Brown, bought the 450 acre estate in 1980. Included were a barn, built in 1859, and a Queen Anne Victorian house from 1885 that had become home to an ungodly numbers of bats. The Department of Fish & Game lovingly removed the bats, a protected species, by hand, one-by-one. The Brown family lovingly restored both the barn, which now serves as winery and tasting room, and the house.

They planted their first vineyard, ten acres of Zinfandel, in 1985. Overtime, they added another 140 acres of vines. The rest of the property is protected land and will remain unplanted.

Part of the Brown Estate vineyard in the Chiles Valley AVA

For the first ten years, the family sold all their fruit to a variety of leading Napa Valley wineries. They didn’t produce the first wine of their own until 1996. David Brown, Bassett and Marcela’s son, has been head winemaker from the beginning. Their production now, all estate bottled, is just under 7,000 cases per year.

The winery is available for visit by appointment. It’s located on Highway 128, near Lake Berryessa. Brown Estate will also be opening a tasting room in downtown Napa soon.

Visits to the winery include a tour and a tasting of four wines, paired with small bites. The bites are delicious on their own and go well with the wines.

One of two tasting zones at Brown Estate

An example of Brown Estate wines offered for tasting

An example of the bites offered with a tasting at Brown Estate

My wine descriptions below don’t include numeric ratings, because the nature of my visit wasn’t conducive to that. However, all of the wines are good and I highly recommend them.

2014 Brown Estate Betelgeuse White Wine Napa Valley 13.9% 750ml $28

Fetching aromas of pear, white flowers, chervil and melon. The palate is nearly ful-bodied yet moderately juicy. Flavors include melon, nectarine and mineral. Predominantly Sauvignon Blanc from Pope Valley, the wine is fermented and aged in stainless steel.

2014 Brown Estate Rosemary’s Block Zinfandel Napa Valley 15.8% 750ml $55

The fruit here comes from estate vines running east-west which are shaded in the afternoon. Ripe berry aromas, red and black, are highlighted by a hint of fresh herb. The medium-bodied palate and lengthy finish feature those red and black berries plus gentle spice. Tannins are moderate and lightly grippy. The alcohol is very well-balanced.

2014 Brown Estate Mickeys’ Block Zinfandel Napa Valley 15.8% 750ml $50

The vines in this estate block are planted north-south in volcanic soil and see sun all day. They are the same clone, and were planted at the same time, as those in Rosemary’s Block. Jammy red cherries and some ripe berries plus a savory, meaty note. Medium+ body and moderate, fine-grained, well-integrated tannins in the mouth. Flavors match the nose and add dark flowers. Very well-balanced.

2014 Brown Estate Westside Zinfandel Napa Valley 15.8% 750ml $50

This is the last vintage until 2022 for this block as it’s currently being replanted. The vines were 24 years old for this bottling. The nose shows pretty spice, maraschino cherry and ripe strawberries. Flavors echo that, highlighting a combination of tart and ripe strawberries. Body is medium+ with persistent, fine-grained texture and a very long finish. Very well balanced.

2014 Brown Estate Chiles Valley Zinfandel Napa Vally 15.8% 750ml $50

100% Zinfandel grown in the center of the estate vineyards. Bright berry pie and spice on the nose and palate with light-grained, persistent tannins.

2013 Brown Estate Chaos Theory Red Blend Napa Valley 14.5% 750ml $40

60% Zinfandel, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petite Sirah. Aromas and flavors of ripe black currant, sweet spice and a touch of tarragon. Medium+ body in the mouth with moderate, softish but persistent, tannins. Tasty, easy-drinking and ready for dinner.

2013 Brown Estate Petite Sirah Napa Valley 13.5% 750ml $55

Napa Valley is a great place for Petite Sirah and this wine exemplifies that. Dark berry fruit and earthy spice on the nose. Lovely and effusive ripe berry fruit and juicy berry pie on the palate. Medium+ body and fine-grained texture.

2013 Brown Estate Charbono “Phat Vine” Napa Valley 13.5% 750ml $125

Pricey for Charbono, but that’s understandable given both quality and scarcity. This wine was made from 140-year old vines in Calistoga that have since been torn out by the owner. Leather, spice, dark berries and sanguine aromas, while the flavors focus on the dark berries with earthy spice. Medium+ body and flavorful in the mouth with moderate, fine- and light-grained tannins.

2013 Brown Estate “Big Dam” Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 14.7% 750ml $125

The name is more than amusing. It pinpoints the vines’ location in a one-acre vineyard block immediately adjacent to the Big Dam. It’s 100% Cabernet Sauvignon which spent two years in French oak barrels. Cherries, dark chocolate, charred jalapenos and coconut on the nose and palate. Medium+ body.

2010 Brown Estate Petite Sirah Fortified Wine Napa Valley 19.5% 750ml

Fortified with house-made brandy, this is a delicious, Port-like wine with aromas and flavors of ripe black cherry and chocolate milkshake.

Copyright Fred Swan 2016. All rights reserved.