Dec 30, 2022
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Brick & Mortar
| Owner(s) | Matt Iaconis |
| Web site | www.brickandmortarwines.com |
| Link to this site |
A label launched in 2011 by owner and winemaker Matt Iaconis featuring Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from Napa Valley's Antinori Vineyard.
Matt, a native Californian, is a graduate of University of California at Davis where he played football and studied Atmospheric Science, hoping to become an astronaut. An introductory course on winemaking changed everything for him. After college, he worked at wineries here and abroad, eventually working with the Antinori family in Napa Valley. It was through this connection that he was able to get the fruit he needed to start his own project.
Matt sources fruit from Cougar Rock Vineyard in the Atlas Peak appellation. He also sources Pinot Noir from a vineyard on the other side of the Napa Valley on Spring Mountain.
The wines are sold on the winery's website.
Articles About Brick & Mortar
Reviewed Wines
2014 brick & mortar Napa Valley Rosé of Pinot Noir
12.5% alc., 55 cases, $22. Released February 14,
2015. Sourced from Cougar Rock Vineyard (80%) and La Perla Vineyard (20%), both in Napa Valley. A saignée
at the crusher, transferred into 50% stainless steel and 50% neutral oak barrels for native fermentation.
Occasional bâtonnage.
·
Demure pinkish orange color in the glass. Pleasant aromas of strawberry, cranberry
and flowery herbs. Good richness for a rosé, with a moderately intense attack of red berry and pear flavors
with a hint of savory herbs in the background. Bone dry, with bright acidity on the finish that offers plenty of
berry fruit flavor with a hint of white pepper. An everyday-styled, unpretentious wine.
Score: 89.
Reviewed March 16, 2015
ARTICLE »
2013 brick & mortar Napa Valley Chardonnay
13.5% alc., 260 cases, $38. Released March 1, 2015.
Sourced from Cougar Rock Vineyard. Harvest Brix 22.8º. Whole cluster pressed, native primary and
secondary fermentations in 100% French oak barrels, 33% new. Aged 10 months before a light fining and
filtration.
·
Light golden yellow and clear in the glass. Lovely aromas of lemon curd, lime zest, Granny Smith
apple and buttery brioche. Very clean, crisp and juicy on the palate, with pleasing flavors of lemon, pear,
honey and caramel. Nicely composed, with a lip-smacking, acid-driven finish.
Score: 92.
Reviewed March 16, 2015
ARTICLE »
2012 brick & mortar Napa Valley Chardonnay
14.1% alc., 128 cases, $38. Released from MSix
Wines on October 1, 2013. Whole cluster pressed, aged in 25% new French oak barrels in natural caves dug deep into the hills in Napa Valley. Primary and secondary fermentations lasted upwards of
4 months. Lightly fined and filtered.
·
Light golden yellow color and clear in the glass. Subdued, but
pleasant aromas of lemon tart, pastry cream and nutty oak. Nicely composed with charming flavors of
lemon, peach and pear with a kiss of oak. Silky in the mouth, with lingering fruit presence on the
uplifting finish.
Score: 90.
Reviewed July 19, 2014
ARTICLE »
2012 brick & mortar Napa Valley Pinot Noir
13.5% alc., 110 cases,
$44. Released March 15, 2015. Sourced from Cougar Rock Vineyard
located in the Atlas Peak sub-AVA of Napa Valley at 1450’ to 1850’
elevation. Clones 777, 115 and Pommard 4. Extended cold soak, native
yeast fermentation, some whole cluster, aged 20 months in 100% onceused
French oak barrels. Bottled unfined and unfiltered.
·
Light cherry red
color in the glass. The nose is more savory than fruity, featuring aromas
of cherry, iron and dried herbs. Soft in the mouth, with light to mid weight
cherry, cranberry and raspberry flavors with an appealing herbal thread in
the background. The fruit really pops. Much better the following day
from a previously opened and re-corked bottle with additional nuances.
The nose was more fruity and expressive, and the darker cherry, clove
spice and peppercorn notes provided interest. Cellar for another 6 to 12
months.
Score: 92.
Reviewed March 16, 2015
ARTICLE »
2011 brick & mortar Napa Valley Pinot Noir
13.3% alc., 84
cases, $44. Released on Oct 1, 2013. Extended cold maceration
until native yeast began a spontaneous fermentation in open-top
barrels. Some whole cluster. Aged 20 months in once-used
French oak barrels. Bottled unfined and unfiltered.
·
Moderately
light garnet color in the glass. Large scale aromas of cherry glaze
with a compliment of smoky oak. Delicious core of spiced black
cherries with a hint of clove and cola. Broad in the mouth and
nicely balanced with suave tannins, integrated acidity, and a
polished, aristocratic mouth feel.
Score: 92.
Reviewed July 19, 2014
ARTICLE »
2014 brick & mortar Napa Valley Rosé of Pinot Noir
12.5% alc., 55 cases, $22. Released February 14, 2015. Sourced from Cougar Rock Vineyard (80%) and La Perla Vineyard (20%), both in Napa Valley. A saignée at the crusher, transferred into 50% stainless steel and 50% neutral oak barrels for native fermentation. Occasional bâtonnage. · Demure pinkish orange color in the glass. Pleasant aromas of strawberry, cranberry and flowery herbs. Good richness for a rosé, with a moderately intense attack of red berry and pear flavors with a hint of savory herbs in the background. Bone dry, with bright acidity on the finish that offers plenty of berry fruit flavor with a hint of white pepper. An everyday-styled, unpretentious wine. Score: 89. Reviewed March 16, 2015 ARTICLE »
2013 brick & mortar Napa Valley Chardonnay
13.5% alc., 260 cases, $38. Released March 1, 2015. Sourced from Cougar Rock Vineyard. Harvest Brix 22.8º. Whole cluster pressed, native primary and secondary fermentations in 100% French oak barrels, 33% new. Aged 10 months before a light fining and filtration. · Light golden yellow and clear in the glass. Lovely aromas of lemon curd, lime zest, Granny Smith apple and buttery brioche. Very clean, crisp and juicy on the palate, with pleasing flavors of lemon, pear, honey and caramel. Nicely composed, with a lip-smacking, acid-driven finish. Score: 92. Reviewed March 16, 2015 ARTICLE »
2012 brick & mortar Napa Valley Chardonnay
14.1% alc., 128 cases, $38. Released from MSix Wines on October 1, 2013. Whole cluster pressed, aged in 25% new French oak barrels in natural caves dug deep into the hills in Napa Valley. Primary and secondary fermentations lasted upwards of 4 months. Lightly fined and filtered. · Light golden yellow color and clear in the glass. Subdued, but pleasant aromas of lemon tart, pastry cream and nutty oak. Nicely composed with charming flavors of lemon, peach and pear with a kiss of oak. Silky in the mouth, with lingering fruit presence on the uplifting finish. Score: 90. Reviewed July 19, 2014 ARTICLE »
2012 brick & mortar Napa Valley Pinot Noir
13.5% alc., 110 cases, $44. Released March 15, 2015. Sourced from Cougar Rock Vineyard located in the Atlas Peak sub-AVA of Napa Valley at 1450’ to 1850’ elevation. Clones 777, 115 and Pommard 4. Extended cold soak, native yeast fermentation, some whole cluster, aged 20 months in 100% onceused French oak barrels. Bottled unfined and unfiltered. · Light cherry red color in the glass. The nose is more savory than fruity, featuring aromas of cherry, iron and dried herbs. Soft in the mouth, with light to mid weight cherry, cranberry and raspberry flavors with an appealing herbal thread in the background. The fruit really pops. Much better the following day from a previously opened and re-corked bottle with additional nuances. The nose was more fruity and expressive, and the darker cherry, clove spice and peppercorn notes provided interest. Cellar for another 6 to 12 months. Score: 92. Reviewed March 16, 2015 ARTICLE »
2011 brick & mortar Napa Valley Pinot Noir
13.3% alc., 84 cases, $44. Released on Oct 1, 2013. Extended cold maceration until native yeast began a spontaneous fermentation in open-top barrels. Some whole cluster. Aged 20 months in once-used French oak barrels. Bottled unfined and unfiltered. · Moderately light garnet color in the glass. Large scale aromas of cherry glaze with a compliment of smoky oak. Delicious core of spiced black cherries with a hint of clove and cola. Broad in the mouth and nicely balanced with suave tannins, integrated acidity, and a polished, aristocratic mouth feel. Score: 92. Reviewed July 19, 2014 ARTICLE »