Brick Angel wines is a small project started by Jason & Angelique Ball in 2006. We had the opportunity to meet Jason several times at Moss Creek Winery where he makes his wines. He also consults and makes wine for another Napa winery. Brick Angel started out extremely small with just several hundred cases. Their first wine was a Cabernet Sauvignon rosé which was as it turns out developed into an “unexpected wine”. His family makes port-style wine and during harvest they were bleeding off juice from this wine. Not having any specific plans for this juice Jason decided it would make a great house wine. Then a fellow winemaker bled off some of his own juice via the French saignée method and all of the sudden Jason had additional premium wine to work with.
The saignée style is one of several methods that winemakers use to make rosé. The name of this winery comes from the first names of their children and of course part of his wife’s name. Jason is the winemaker, so his contribution to the label is quite obvious. He is currently making a very nice Sauvignon Blanc from the Mello Vineyard in Yountville, and the aforementioned Cabernet Sauvignon Rose.
We tried the 2006 Brick Angel Sauvignon Blanc. This is a fun light wine and very easy to drink. Very refreshing to sip while chilled on a 100 degree day. Subtle citrus notes on the bouquet including lime, lemon and grapefruit lead to palate with a rounded mouth feel. Grassy notes, more citrus and some melon characteristics show mid palate through to the finish. Lingers with herbal and mineral qualities and even some very subtle hints of toast. Multiple Sauvignon Blanc clones were used in this wine; it was whole cluster pressed and fermented in stainless and neutral oak barrels. Definitely serve this wine chilled – besides a pool and patio sipper wine, it will pair well with spicy foods and also sea food.
As of the time of this review, look for two other wines in production, the 2006 Brick Angel Cabernet Sauvignon rosé (not a common wine in Napa), and the 2006 Brick Angel Littlefoot, a proprietary blend of Petite Syrah, Syrah and Zinfandel. Brick Angel may at some point work with other very small wineries to open a collective tasting room in the town of Yountville. We will be on top of this if it develops and will be among the first to taste whenever they open. While not open to the public this is a great chance to try very limited production “lighter” Napa wines at a very affordable price point. In the meantime, visit: http://brickangel.googlepages.com
Note: no longer making wines commercially. This review is now archived.
Omg. I am so sad. We are coming to Napa in a few weeks and were looking forward to visiting Brick Angel. We were there in 2008 and had the best wine tasting experience ever. Jason was so welcoming and friendly. He gave us the opportunity to have our first barrel tasting ever. He talked about his love for his wife and kids and made us feel like family. I was so looking forward to seeing him again this year. Thoughts and prayers to the family.
Karen – yea, this was a major shock when I found out Jason had passed away at such a young age. I was just visiting with Ken Givich of Givich Cellars a few days ago. Jason used to make his wine. Ken doesn’t have a tasting room and sells mostly to restaurants.
Bart of St Barthelemy Cellars focuses on port style wines (no longer producing I think but he has a decent size library collection and I see him from time to time still pouring at various tastings). It was through him when I first visited Moss Creek Winery (now Steele Canyon Cellars) that I originally met Jason. I think Angelique is still in the valley – and maybe works for Heitz Cellars. Not sure if you ever met her or not.
I met Angelique briefly in 2008 when we were visiting Brick Angel. Maybe we will visit Heitz to give our regards.
Any other recommendations?
I met Angelique briefly in 2008 when we were wine tasting at Brick Angel. Maybe we will visit Heitz Cellars to say hello. Do you have any other.recommendations?
Out of the 1,000+ Napa Valley based wineries, producers or tasting rooms I’ve visited with and written about to date…. yes, I always have recommendations – my list is different every time someone asks me – here are just a couple off the top of my head – trying to provide a few comparable to Brick Angel 🙂
Smaller producers
Reach out to Mike Henry owner of Tree Bottom Wines – very personable, small producer, gorgeous vineyard high up on Howell Mountain (not to far of a drive tho from the Silverado Trail)
Gibbs – some of the best value to quality wines in all of Napa Valley – ask for Lucas
Brookdale – Kristi Seitz – long time producer, she is a sweet heart, also owns Soda Canyon Store, haven’t seen her in a while but I see her driving around the valley every once in a while
Mike Hendry – Mike & Molly Hendry wines – very down to earth, very historical vineyard site as well
Apsara Cellars – ask for the owner Robin, very personalized tasting
Shypoke Cellars – Peter Heitz, really cool guy
You can reference any of these on my site or their own websites.
Hope this helps 🙂
Dave
What is your site?
This site! Napa Wine Project http://www.napawineproject.com – you can use the search box at the top of every page to search for each of these or also on top of the page as part of the main links – there is the link to the reviews – all are listed here:
http://www.napawineproject.com/reviews/
~ Dave
Thank you so much!!!