Family story behind a stellar Coonawarra cabernet

There is a poignant story behind the outstanding Silent Partner Cabernet Sauvignon releases from Brand and Sons/Jim Brand Wines.

The label's founder, leading Coonawarra winemaker Jim Brand, died 20 years ago at the age of just 52, but his wine philosophies still guide his son Sam Brand and team's direction.

"The Silent Partner is a reference to Dad's on-going influence on everything that we do," says Sam Brand.

The Brand family sent me a vertical of the Silent Partner; from the smooth 2013 to the pre-release 2023, and there was a common thread of class and elegance throughout the wines, although the recently bottled 2023 was still a little feisty.

The 2013, 2020, 2021 and 2022 all offer outstanding examples of Coonawarra cabernet quality at a very fair price of $40.

The wines are made in small quantities but are well worth seeking out.

The first vintage was made as a tribute to Jim Brand in 2005.

"All of the fruit comes from our ‘Yates’ vineyard in what we call the ‘Mid-West’ of Coonawarra on a combination of Red Terra Rossa and Brown Redzina soils," says Sam Brand.

"Our winemaker Peter Weinberg spent six years under Dad’s tutelage at Brands Laira and knows well the techniques and style he preferred.

"Oak regime involves predominantly French oak, but only 20-30% new."

That oak is often from cooper Seguin Moreau, whose barrels were a favourite of Jim Brand (below).

"Producing the quintessential Coonawarra cabernet was always the goal," Sam Brand adds "with a wine style that had full flavour, density, recognisable regionality, but importantly that you could have a second glass of."

That's a key element these days, with big, American-oaked reds often so big that one glass is enough. Here there is power, but also impressive balance - and classic Coonawarra characters shine.

The pricing has remained at $40 per bottle for well over a decade - making the Silent Partner outstanding value for money.

The current vintage is 2021 - it is a very complete wine, and my favourite, along with the soon-to-be released 2022, one to look forward to.

See https://brandandsons.com.au/jim-brand/

Night skies inspire a premium wine range

Coonawarra is known as a superb region in which to craft medium-bodied red wines.

So what do you do if you have a small vineyard planted with traditional red grape varieties that is producing outstanding fruit - albeit in small quantities.

If you are Sam Brand - a member of one of the region's standout wine families - you create a new premium brand to showcase the quality of your grapes.

You call the brand Nightfall, and commission some outstanding artwork so your labels stand out from the crowd.

"Nightfall wines are the epitome of luxury, style and exclusivity," says fourth-generation winemaker Brand. "They are crafted from a pristine single vineyard, in the heart of Australia’s most premium wine region, Coonawarra.

"This is an extremely limited series of wines, all sourced from a single site with a definite sense of origin, a true representation of the soil, the environment and the stars."

The concept for Nightfall was born after a dinner with customers when Brand walked outside to find his clients all looking up, mesmerised by the beauty of the night sky above Coonawarra.

They likened the stars to diamonds in the sky - and a brand - and a label idea - was born.

The 10-acre vineyard planted was planted in 1984 with cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc and merlot, all of which traditionally shine in Coonawarra.

The soil is terra rossa over limestone - perfect for premium reds. 

The latest releases are from the 2019 vintage - and all are bold, complex wines, full of individual personalities, that would benefit from medium to long term favourites.

Three are available in the Noble Beasts Three Pack: The Lion Cabernet Sauvignon, Aquila Cabernet Franc and Lupus Merlot.

Brand says: "Each of these wines represents a noble animal, a lion, eagle and wolf, released only when the single varietal from each vineyard shines like the diamond skies."

The intense but varietal cabernet franc is outstanding, with the powerful merlot one of the best examples in Australia.

The range also includes the Nightfall ‘ The Balance’ Dry Red (Cabernets) 2019 and the very serious Nightfall ‘Draco’ 2019 (red blend).

These wines need to be seen with food to be at their best. 

Total production limited to 5 wines and less than 800 dozen. See https://nightfallwines.com.au/