M5 is a Chateauneuf-du-Pape style blend using five grape varieties from twelve of the highest quality vineyards in Santa Barbara County.
Is it a Varietal Blend or a Vineyard Blend - OR BOTH?
50% Syrah - (24% Alisos Vineyard, 24% Vogelzang Vineyard, 15% Great Oak Ranch Vineyard, 20% Black Oak Vineyard, 7% Alondra de los Prados Vineyard, 7% Purisima Mountain Vineyard, and 3% Colson Canyon Vineyard)26% Grenache - (58% Zaca Mesa Vineyard, 15% Vogelzang Vineyard, 10% Purisima Mountain Vineyard, 11% Crossroads Vineyard and 5% Watch Hill Vineyard)
9% Mouvedre - (78% Zaca Mesa Vineyard and 22% Vogelzang Vineyard)
4% Counoise- (Stolpman Vineyard)
4% Cinsault- (Stolpman Vineyard)
This carefully crafted blend brings together the black, deep licorice richness of syrah and melds it with the bright raspberry-cherry flavors of the Grenache. The mouvedre, counoise and cinsault add bright acidity, tannins and aromatic notes of spice and fruit. The result is a full bodied yet delightfully well balanced and lively blend.
Regarded as one of California’s top producers of Rhone style wines, Doug and his winemaker Doug Scott are masters at sourcing out the best fruit from some of the region’s most renowned growers. Names such as Volgang, Purisima Mountain, Alisos and Colson Canyon are a few of vineyards chosen by these two talented vinters to make their wine.
"The M5 mission statement: M5 is a wine that is from a thought - a blend that is an amalgamation of memories, both distant and recent, of wines I've tasted and loved the past thirty-three years. As always, this multi-vineyard, multi-varietal cuvee illustrates the benefits inherent in a blended wine."
From the Winelover's Page
"In Santa Barbara County winemaking circles, Doug Margerum is nearly legendary. ... While running the Wine Cask complex, he also made wine under the tutelage of and with Jim Clendenen (ABC), Bob Lindquist (Qupe), Fred Brander (Brander) and others. Many of these wines were Wine Cask labeled bottlings to serve as house wines for the restaurant; others were made under the MWC label and sold at retail. When Margerum left the restaurant business behind, he had plenty of winemaking experience and was finally able to devote his full time and attention to winemaking at Margerum Wine Company, where he focuses on Rhone style red wines and eclectic whites, assisted by production winemaker, Doug "Scotty" Scott.... ... Sweet ripe fruit, both red (raspberry and cherry) and black, combine for a bombastic, high tempered, full bodied red wine in a Chateauneuf du Pape style that, like I said, will kick out the jams and give you immediate flavor gratification.
5 STARS - From Steve Tanzer of San Francisco, California on 9/17/2008.
Medium, bright-rimmed red. Sexy raspberry and white pepper on the nose, with a subtle anise quality adding complexity. Bright raspberry and cherry flavors offer impressive depth and urgency, fleshing out with air but maintaining verve. There's an impressive delicacy and understatement here that reminded me of pinot noir. It should be noted that Margerum's winery boasts an impressive set of racks filled with some of the greatest Burgundies and Rhones-and even some Bordeaux too.
A popular wine at the girl and the fig, it is a perfect compliment to any meat dish such as our butcher steak or roast lamb but is delicate enough to pair with our quiche or duck confit.
