Dec 30, 2022
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Bruliam Wines
| Owner(s) | Brian Overstreet, Kerith Overstreet |
| Web site | www.bruliamwines.com |
| Link to this site |
A new label beginning with the 2008 vintage, Bruliam (the tagline is "Wine is Elemental" - with wine elemental in the life of the husband-wife owners) is the project of two wine enthusiasts, Kerith and Brian Overstreet. Brian is the CEO of fast-growing Sagient Research Systems. Kerith is a medical doctor who started out in general surgery, moved into pathology, and finally left medicine to raise a family of three kids. She did not discard her scientific background completely, using it to become a winemaker.
Bruliam is an amalgamation of their kid's names (Bruno, Lily and Amelia)
The first release was a Pinot Noir from the Santa Lucia Highlands (Annahala Vineyard) crafted at Crushpad in San Francisco. In 2009, Bruliam added Pinot Noirs from the Sonoma Coast and the Anderson Valley and moved production to a winery in Healdsburg. The Overstreets have relocated in 2011 from their home in La Jolla (Kerith lived in La Jolla since 1978) to Healdsburg to be closer to their wine venture. With the 2010 vintage, a Pinot Noir was released from the new Sierra Mar Vineyard in the Santa Lucia Highlands. In 2012, the Overstreets acquired the small Two Sisters Vineyard in the Russian River Valley which has old plantings of Martini clone.
The winery's blog is very informative and has documented the creation of this winery from its earliest beginnings. Cool label too.
The wines will be sold through a mailing list and all proceeds will be donated to the Overstreet Family Foundation with multiple beneficiaries. The Bruliam Pinot Noirs may be purchased online. A Zinfandel was added in the 2009 vintage.
Articles About Bruliam Wines
Adventures on the Pinot Trail: World of Pinot Noir: The Tastings (9.39 3/29/2014)
Along The Pinot Trail: 2013 World of Pinot Noir (9.23 4/13/2013)
Along the Pinot Trail in California: Part 2 - North Coast & Other (9.8 6/24/2012)
Along the Pinot Trail in California: Part I - Central Coast (9.8 6/24/2012)
California Pinot Noir Doctors (9.25 6/2/2013)
Drinking Small (8.27 12/14/2010)
Elite California Pinot Noir Vineyards Part I: North Coast - Petaluma Gap (12.20 8/2/2021)
Historic California Old Vine Pinot Noir Vineyards Pulled Out or Planted Shortly After 1980 or Lacking Verifiable Planting Information (12.8 8/30/2020)
More Anderson Noir Valley Pinot (9.8 6/24/2012)
Pinot Briefs (9.21 3/23/2013)
Pinot Briefs (8.13 4/8/2010)
Pinot Briefs (9.10 8/22/2012)
Rosé and Chardonnay: Recently Sampled Wines (9.24 5/5/2013)
Sips of Pinot: Wines Tasted Recently (9.24 5/5/2013)
Small Sips of Pinot (8.16 6/8/2010)
Reviewed Wines
2018 Bruliam Gap’s Crown Vineyard Petaluma Gap Pinot Noir
14.2% alc., $65. Harvest Brix 23.8º. Grapes
were 100% de-stemmed.5-day cold soak, inoculated with proprietary yeast for primary fermentation. Aged 10
months in 30% new French oak barrels and another 18 months in bottle prior to February 2021 release.
·
Moderate garnet color in the glass. Ooh la la aromas of dark red cherry, raspberry and spice. Mid-weight
flavors replicate the aromas in a beautifully composed wine with perfect balance between fruit, tannin and
acidity. The impeccable balance predicts age ability.
Score: 94.
Reviewed August 1, 2021
ARTICLE »
2013 Bruliam Gap’s Crown Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
Moderate garnet color in the glass. A
noticeable aged but delightful wine offering aromas of black cherry and worn leather, and flavors of dark cherry,
pomegranate, brewed black tea, and truffle. Suave in the mouth, with some fading of fruit, but still pushing out
enough fruit for a satisfying finish.
Score: 92.
Reviewed August 1, 2021
ARTICLE »
2012 Bruliam Sonoma County Rosé of Pinot Noir
14.5% alc.,
$20. A saignée of Pinot Noir after 24 hours of skin contact. Fruit is
from the Russian River Valley (estate Torrey Hill Vineyard) and
Sonoma Coast (Gap’s Crown Vineyard). Fermented and aged in
stainless steel kegs after inoculation. No MLF. LIghtly fined for
clarity.
·
Light pink-coral color and clear in the glass. Fresh aromas of
strawberries, watermelon, cherry glaze and dried herbs. The flavors
echo the nose with some welcome spice. A subtle riff of dried herbs adds an
appealing savory accent. The wine is dry and refreshing and not in the tutti fruity
genre of rosés. I would drink it with sushi. Very good.
Reviewed May 5, 2013
ARTICLE »
2011 Bruliam Soberanes Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir
13.9% alc., $N/A.
·
Moderately light
reddish-purple color in the glass. The nose and flavors are currently dominated by oak-driven notes of coffee
and mocha but there is an enticing core of fruit under cover. Soft in the mouth with gentle tannins. Give this
wine more time for the oak to integrate. Decent.
Reviewed April 13, 2013
ARTICLE »
2011 Bruliam Caritas Cuvée Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
13.1% alc., pH 3.38, TA 0.828, $35. Sourced from
Deer Meadows Vineyard farmed by Rich Savoy. The 2011 crop was plagued by botrytis and harvest was
challenging. Mixture of co-fermented Swan, 777 and Calera. 100% de-stemmed. Aged 10 months in
seasoned French oak and 9 months in bottle before release.
·
Light garnet color in the glass. Aromas of red
cherries, red hard candy and rose bush. Delicate and pleasant, but rather hollow, offering crisp flavors of red
cherries and red raspberries with a hint of herbs. Decent.
Reviewed May 5, 2013
ARTICLE »
2011 Bruliam Gap’s Crown Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
14.3% alc., pH 3.46, TA 0.462, $55.
Picking began a day before September rains. Clone 115. 100% de-stemmed. Saignée for a rosé was
followed by minor acid and water additions to replace the volume lost. Aged 10 months in 20% new French
Radoux oak barrels and 80% Radoux seasoned oak barrels. Aged 9 months in bottle before release.
·
Moderately light reddish-purple color in the glass. The nose is enchanting, starting out with aromas of black
cherries and evolving to more complexity with scents of sassafras, bark, cola and cinnamon. Elegant and
tasty, with mid weight flavors of black cherries and black raspberries and undertones of oak and anise. The fruit
is well-framed by good acidity and gentle tannins. The finish is fruit-driven and charming. Very good.
Reviewed May 5, 2013
ARTICLE »
2010 Bruliam Deer Meadows Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
13.7% alc., $46. Released December
11, 2011. From a vineyard that sits 1,600 feet above the valley floor, farmed by Rich Savoy. Calera (20%), 777
(50%) and 115 (30%) clones are co-fermented. Aged 10 months in 50% new Francois Frères French oak
barrels.
·
Moderately light reddish-purple color in the glass. I love the heady aromas of raspberries,
strawberries, sandalwood and spice. Wood-kissed dark raspberry flavor on a lighter, elegant frame with mild,
fine-grain tannins and adequate acidity. Reserved mid-palate impression and finish, but has charm. Tasted
twice. Good (+).
Reviewed June 24, 2012
ARTICLE »
2010 Bruliam Soberanes Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir
14.3% alc., $46. Released
December 11, 2011. Inaugural bottling. Pisoni clone. 100% de-stemmed. Aged 10 months in 50% new
French oak (Remond), and another 3 months in bottle before release.
·
Medium reddish-purple color in the
glass. Takes some work to bring the nose out, but it grudgingly offers pleasing aromas of dark berries and
exotic spices. Lip-smacking, middleweight core of perfectly ripe dark red and black berry and plum fruit. Very
good supporting acidity and oak, lacking slightly in finishing length and intensity. Quintessential Santa Lucia
Highlands fruit profile. Good (+).
Reviewed June 24, 2012
ARTICLE »
2010 Bruliam Wildcat Mountain Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., $46. 100% de-stemmed,
minor acid and water additions to counteract high sugar. Inoculated fermentations. Aged 10 months in 50%
new French oak (Remond). Clone 828.
·
Moderate reddish-purple color in the glass. Nicely perfumed with vivid
aromas of dark cherries, plum sauce, grilled beef, wildflower and seasoned oak. Darker cherries and berries
are featured on a middleweight frame, with hints of herbs, straw and tobacco, becoming more expressive over
time in the glass. Soft, well-tamed mountain tannins, finishing with a flourish of dark berry fruit. Will benefit
from more bottle aging. This vineyard pumps out wines of considerable interest year in and year out. Very good (-).
Reviewed June 24, 2012
ARTICLE »
2009 Bruliam Doctor’s Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir
14.3% alc., pH 3.55, $52. Aged for 11
months in 50% new Franch oak from Remond. Clones 828, 777, 667 and Swan.
·
This is a crowd pleaser and
a little more substantial tease with its exuberant scent of black cherries, dark red berries and forest floor. The
tasty fruit is well robed in suede tannins creating an invitingly smooth mouth feel. Like eating kirsch-soaked
cherries on a velvet blanket. Very Good.
Reviewed December 14, 2010
ARTICLE »
2009 Bruliam Hayley Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
14.2% alc., pH 3.73, $52. Unusual wine in that
it is 100% clone 114.
·
This Pinot is the most feminine, the angel of the lineup. Very pretty perfume of cherries,
strawberries and spice echoed in the flavors on the palate. Soft, forward and charming, with a spark of acidity
to enliven the cherry driven finish. Very Good.
Reviewed December 14, 2010
ARTICLE »
2009 Bruliam Split Rock Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
14.3% alc., pH 3.82, $52. Fermented as
100% clone 667 with small amounts of clones 115 and 828 added at blending.
·
Rugged and muscular, this wine
offers a bold array of earth-kissed, fleshy and savory dark stone fruits. As is typical for clone 667, the color is
strong and intense and the tannins are firm and angular. Will appeal to fruit hedonists. Put this one in your
cellar while you drink the Hayley and Doctor’s wines. Good.
Reviewed December 14, 2010
ARTICLE »
2008 Bruliam Doctor’s Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir
14.7%
alc., pH 3.64, $52, sold out. Inaugural release from this new producer who
donates 100% of profits from sales to a charitable foundation. 100% destemmed.
Primarily Dijon clone 115 and Calera selection with smaller amounts
of 667, 2A and Swan. Barreled as 70% free run juice and 30% press fraction.
Aged 11 months in 50% new French oak barrels.
·
Moderately dark reddishpurple
color in the glass. Brooding aromas of blackberries, ripe strawberries
and a hint of oak sap and toast. A fruit-driven wine displaying charming and
generous flavors of plums, dark berries and quince. Thick and bold, but not
jammy, with supple tannins leaving a bit of heat in its wake on the finish. Very
typical of Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir. Good.
Reviewed June 8, 2010
ARTICLE »
2018 Bruliam Gap’s Crown Vineyard Petaluma Gap Pinot Noir
14.2% alc., $65. Harvest Brix 23.8º. Grapes were 100% de-stemmed.5-day cold soak, inoculated with proprietary yeast for primary fermentation. Aged 10 months in 30% new French oak barrels and another 18 months in bottle prior to February 2021 release. · Moderate garnet color in the glass. Ooh la la aromas of dark red cherry, raspberry and spice. Mid-weight flavors replicate the aromas in a beautifully composed wine with perfect balance between fruit, tannin and acidity. The impeccable balance predicts age ability. Score: 94. Reviewed August 1, 2021 ARTICLE »
2013 Bruliam Gap’s Crown Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
Moderate garnet color in the glass. A noticeable aged but delightful wine offering aromas of black cherry and worn leather, and flavors of dark cherry, pomegranate, brewed black tea, and truffle. Suave in the mouth, with some fading of fruit, but still pushing out enough fruit for a satisfying finish. Score: 92. Reviewed August 1, 2021 ARTICLE »
2012 Bruliam Sonoma County Rosé of Pinot Noir
14.5% alc., $20. A saignée of Pinot Noir after 24 hours of skin contact. Fruit is from the Russian River Valley (estate Torrey Hill Vineyard) and Sonoma Coast (Gap’s Crown Vineyard). Fermented and aged in stainless steel kegs after inoculation. No MLF. LIghtly fined for clarity. · Light pink-coral color and clear in the glass. Fresh aromas of strawberries, watermelon, cherry glaze and dried herbs. The flavors echo the nose with some welcome spice. A subtle riff of dried herbs adds an appealing savory accent. The wine is dry and refreshing and not in the tutti fruity genre of rosés. I would drink it with sushi. Very good. Reviewed May 5, 2013 ARTICLE »
2011 Bruliam Soberanes Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir
13.9% alc., $N/A. · Moderately light reddish-purple color in the glass. The nose and flavors are currently dominated by oak-driven notes of coffee and mocha but there is an enticing core of fruit under cover. Soft in the mouth with gentle tannins. Give this wine more time for the oak to integrate. Decent. Reviewed April 13, 2013 ARTICLE »
2011 Bruliam Caritas Cuvée Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
13.1% alc., pH 3.38, TA 0.828, $35. Sourced from Deer Meadows Vineyard farmed by Rich Savoy. The 2011 crop was plagued by botrytis and harvest was challenging. Mixture of co-fermented Swan, 777 and Calera. 100% de-stemmed. Aged 10 months in seasoned French oak and 9 months in bottle before release. · Light garnet color in the glass. Aromas of red cherries, red hard candy and rose bush. Delicate and pleasant, but rather hollow, offering crisp flavors of red cherries and red raspberries with a hint of herbs. Decent. Reviewed May 5, 2013 ARTICLE »
2011 Bruliam Gap’s Crown Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
14.3% alc., pH 3.46, TA 0.462, $55. Picking began a day before September rains. Clone 115. 100% de-stemmed. Saignée for a rosé was followed by minor acid and water additions to replace the volume lost. Aged 10 months in 20% new French Radoux oak barrels and 80% Radoux seasoned oak barrels. Aged 9 months in bottle before release. · Moderately light reddish-purple color in the glass. The nose is enchanting, starting out with aromas of black cherries and evolving to more complexity with scents of sassafras, bark, cola and cinnamon. Elegant and tasty, with mid weight flavors of black cherries and black raspberries and undertones of oak and anise. The fruit is well-framed by good acidity and gentle tannins. The finish is fruit-driven and charming. Very good. Reviewed May 5, 2013 ARTICLE »
2010 Bruliam Deer Meadows Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
13.7% alc., $46. Released December 11, 2011. From a vineyard that sits 1,600 feet above the valley floor, farmed by Rich Savoy. Calera (20%), 777 (50%) and 115 (30%) clones are co-fermented. Aged 10 months in 50% new Francois Frères French oak barrels. · Moderately light reddish-purple color in the glass. I love the heady aromas of raspberries, strawberries, sandalwood and spice. Wood-kissed dark raspberry flavor on a lighter, elegant frame with mild, fine-grain tannins and adequate acidity. Reserved mid-palate impression and finish, but has charm. Tasted twice. Good (+). Reviewed June 24, 2012 ARTICLE »
2010 Bruliam Soberanes Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir
14.3% alc., $46. Released December 11, 2011. Inaugural bottling. Pisoni clone. 100% de-stemmed. Aged 10 months in 50% new French oak (Remond), and another 3 months in bottle before release. · Medium reddish-purple color in the glass. Takes some work to bring the nose out, but it grudgingly offers pleasing aromas of dark berries and exotic spices. Lip-smacking, middleweight core of perfectly ripe dark red and black berry and plum fruit. Very good supporting acidity and oak, lacking slightly in finishing length and intensity. Quintessential Santa Lucia Highlands fruit profile. Good (+). Reviewed June 24, 2012 ARTICLE »
2010 Bruliam Wildcat Mountain Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
14.1% alc., $46. 100% de-stemmed, minor acid and water additions to counteract high sugar. Inoculated fermentations. Aged 10 months in 50% new French oak (Remond). Clone 828. · Moderate reddish-purple color in the glass. Nicely perfumed with vivid aromas of dark cherries, plum sauce, grilled beef, wildflower and seasoned oak. Darker cherries and berries are featured on a middleweight frame, with hints of herbs, straw and tobacco, becoming more expressive over time in the glass. Soft, well-tamed mountain tannins, finishing with a flourish of dark berry fruit. Will benefit from more bottle aging. This vineyard pumps out wines of considerable interest year in and year out. Very good (-). Reviewed June 24, 2012 ARTICLE »
2009 Bruliam Doctor’s Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir
14.3% alc., pH 3.55, $52. Aged for 11 months in 50% new Franch oak from Remond. Clones 828, 777, 667 and Swan. · This is a crowd pleaser and a little more substantial tease with its exuberant scent of black cherries, dark red berries and forest floor. The tasty fruit is well robed in suede tannins creating an invitingly smooth mouth feel. Like eating kirsch-soaked cherries on a velvet blanket. Very Good. Reviewed December 14, 2010 ARTICLE »
2009 Bruliam Hayley Vineyard Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
14.2% alc., pH 3.73, $52. Unusual wine in that it is 100% clone 114. · This Pinot is the most feminine, the angel of the lineup. Very pretty perfume of cherries, strawberries and spice echoed in the flavors on the palate. Soft, forward and charming, with a spark of acidity to enliven the cherry driven finish. Very Good. Reviewed December 14, 2010 ARTICLE »
2009 Bruliam Split Rock Vineyard Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
14.3% alc., pH 3.82, $52. Fermented as 100% clone 667 with small amounts of clones 115 and 828 added at blending. · Rugged and muscular, this wine offers a bold array of earth-kissed, fleshy and savory dark stone fruits. As is typical for clone 667, the color is strong and intense and the tannins are firm and angular. Will appeal to fruit hedonists. Put this one in your cellar while you drink the Hayley and Doctor’s wines. Good. Reviewed December 14, 2010 ARTICLE »
2008 Bruliam Doctor’s Vineyard Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir
14.7% alc., pH 3.64, $52, sold out. Inaugural release from this new producer who donates 100% of profits from sales to a charitable foundation. 100% destemmed. Primarily Dijon clone 115 and Calera selection with smaller amounts of 667, 2A and Swan. Barreled as 70% free run juice and 30% press fraction. Aged 11 months in 50% new French oak barrels. · Moderately dark reddishpurple color in the glass. Brooding aromas of blackberries, ripe strawberries and a hint of oak sap and toast. A fruit-driven wine displaying charming and generous flavors of plums, dark berries and quince. Thick and bold, but not jammy, with supple tannins leaving a bit of heat in its wake on the finish. Very typical of Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir. Good. Reviewed June 8, 2010 ARTICLE »