Two Shepherds, 2010 Grenache Blanc, Saarloos Vineyard

Sometimes folks just talk and talk and talk about what they are doing but than you never get to see the results.  And than sometimes you get to watch someone with so much passion and attention to detail knock it out of the park. I think this would sum up William Allen, wine aficionado, blogger, hedonist,Rhône lover and nice guy!

This is Two Shephards' first vintage of Grenache Blanc, from the Saarloos Vineyard in Santa Ynez Valley. To preserve the wine's natural acidity and freshness while adding body and texture, it was fermented and aged in neutral French oak for eight months on the lees. 

“The nose leads with aromas of white peach, citrus and candied lemon with nutty undertones, followed by a creamy, round palate with a nice beam of acidity running through. With air, aromas and flavors of green melon and honeysuckle emerge, and a pleasing wet stone minerality accents the finish. Alcohol was kept at a moderate 13.9% abv – impressive! “  K&L Wine

Another review reveals; "Nose of Asian spice, kiwi fruit, limestone, lemon zest, and pear. Good intensity and a complex set of flavors create an expressive, vibrant bouquet. The palate opens with a burst of lively acid that gives way to a balanced mid-palate of ruby grapefruit, tangerine, limestone, and peppery spice. Great flavor integration that will only get better with time had me thinking this wine will last 5-7 years." Beaus Barrel Room Blog


Wine blogger turned winemaker William Allen felt "so strongly about a movement back to wines of balance, elegance, and modest alcohol," he writes on his blog www.simplehedonisms.com in the fall of 2011, "that after several years of pontification I...put my money (all of it) where my mouth is and started a new micro label (<300 cases) called Two Shepherds."

Not sure how long it is going to last, but we have been pouring it by the glass. It will be exciting to see what the next harvest brings Two Shepherds.

Grenache blanc is a variety of white wine grape that is related to the red grape Grenache. It is mostly found in Rhône wine blends and in northeast Spain. Its wines are characterized by high alcohol and low acidity, with citrus and or herbaceous notes. Its vigor can lead to overproduction and flabbiness. However, if yields are controlled, it can contribute flavor and length to blends, particularly with Roussanne. Since the 1980s, it has been the fifth most widely planted white wine grape in France after Ugni blanc, Chardonnay, Semillon and Sauvignon blanc.

Grenache blanc responds best to low fermentation temperatures which produces a fresh, dill scented wine in its youth. The grape is fairly flexible in winemaking and can be exposed to malolactic fermentation, extended skin maceration, lees stirring as well as oak aging.(wiki)







In Santa Ynez; the Saarloos Vineyard painted by artist Richard Rice.
http://richardricefineart.com/works/763666/saarloos-vineyard-14x18

2008 DEWN Ca’del Solo Grenache Blanc

Bonny Doon is Demeter Certified Bio-dynamic. They aspire to produce wines in a more unaffected, hands-off style, with minimal wine-making intervention or manipulation. The intent is to restore life and vitality to the soil and respect the farm as a complex and self-sustaining organism, which makes it a perfect fit on the girl & the fig’s wine menu.  

From the website: A wondrous California poppy-like wine full of zesty pear and spice extraordinaire made from Biodynamic Grenache blanc from our Ca’ del Solo vineyard in Monterey.  Subtly ripe fruit notes of quince, citrus rind and green melon lead to a lush lightly spiced palate of nutmeg and cinnamon with a long creamy finish.  

Winemaker Notes: This small lot, single vineyard, wine was hand harvested and sorted in late Fall, fermented in stainless steel and aged for 3 months in French oak puncheons, 20% of which were new. Ready to drink but able to develop for another 18-24 months. 

From UC Santa Cruz Alumni Files:  Randall Grahm (early ’70s, German Literature). Internationally renowned in the wine and food world for the award-winning wines he produces as the owner of Bonny Doon Vineyards, and erudite, humorous and unorthodox wine labels and newsletters. Described by Sunset magazine as “one part Baron Philippe de Rothschild, one part Monty Python.” Grahm won the Wine and Spirits Professional of the Year award in 1994 (nominated by the James Beard Foundation) and the Bon Appétit magazine 1999 Wine and Spirits Professional of the Year award (though, he writes, “that distinction is still subject to a recount in New York State”). In 1992, the “Rhoneranger” asteroid was named in his honor. Grahm describes himself as “a vitizen of the world.”

from the Feedbag ...  Grahm, best known for being the man who introduced Rhone grapes to America, is especially adored by the more morally-minded wine people for his strongly principled stances and aphoristic pronouncements, like this one; “BY SOUL I MEAN SOIL, AND BY SOIL I MEAN TERROIR,” and “MINERALITY = LIFE FORCE.” 

Vintage: 2008

Varietal: 100% Grenache Blanc

Aromas: Wintergreen, hazelnut, pineapple salsa

Body: Full and lush

Vineyard: Ca’ del Solo, Monterey County

Alcohol by Volume: 14.5%

Serving Temperature: 45-55º F

Cellaring: 1-2 years

Production: 440 cases 

Consilience 2007 Grenache Blanc, Santa Barbara

Consilience winery has been making wine since 1997, but was formally founded in 1999. They have been making wines "loosely focused around the typical Rhône varietals" (most of which are sourced from the Fess Parker estate) ever since. Their winemaking philosophy is to create wine with distinct expression of regional characteristics. Brett Escalera is the winemaker from Consilience. He brings experience from his ongoing tenure at Fess Parker Winery where he has been making wine since 1996. His position at Fess Parker's Winery also allows Consilience to source much of its fruit from that estate.


The admirable goals of Consilience wines are straightforward:  "To make the most expressive and reliably high quality wines possible, and to share them with an unsurpassed level of customer service.”  

Winemaker’s Comments: Grenache Blanc is the white berried form of Grenache, and also has its origins in the northeast of Spain where it is found in the blends from the Rioja.

Located in the wine country town of Los Olivos, Consilience winery’s grapes come from the Camp4 Vineyard, known for cool mornings, long warm days, and cool nights; perfect for maximum ripeness for Grenache Blanc, maintaining the necessary acidity. 

The cycle of cool mornings, warm days and return to cool evenings are what make this a prime growing area for the typical Rhone grape varieties. All factors make for a long growing season and maximal flavor development. Barrel fermented in older French and American oak, this Grenache Blanc proudly exhibits well rounded aromatics of caramel apple with that fresh from the orchard scent and crispness on the palate.

Aromas:  fresh green apples, bathed in rich, gooey caramel

Body:  smooth and luscious on the palate
Vintage: 2007
Varietal: Grenache Blanc
Appellation: Santa Barbara
Case Production: 447 cases

About the winemaker: Brett Escalera’s roots in winemaking can be traced back to his grandfathers who were both home winemakers, but his passion was inspired thru courses taught by Dr. Marian Baldy, author of The University Wine Course, while attending California State University, Chico as an undergraduate business major.In 1992 he enrolled as a graduate student at California State University, Fresno where he completed the course requirements for a second major in Enology, a minor in Viticulture, and a Masters of Science in Agricultural Chemistry. His thesis project work was on the trellising, training, and pruning of Chardonnay grapevines in Santa Barbara County to improve yield, fruit composition, and wine quality. 

After a very brief stint in 2005 as the Director of Winemaking for Central Coast Wine Services in Santa Maria, Brett returned to the Fess Parker organization in 2005 as the Head Winemaker for the Parker Station line of wines and more recently as the Director of Winemaking for the Parker Wine Center.

2006 Consilience Grenache Blanc, Santa Barbara

Consilience winery has been making wine since 1997, but was formally founded in 1999. They have been making wines "loosely focused around the typical Rhône varietals" (most of which are sourced from the Fess Parker estate) ever since. Their winemaking philosophy is to create wine with distinct expression of regional characteristics. Brett Escalera is the winemaker from Consilience. He brings experience from his ongoing tenure at Fess Parker Winery where he has been making wine since 1996. His position at Fess Parker's Winery also allows Consilience to source much of its fruit from that estate.
Winemaker’s Comments: Grenache Blanc is the white berried form of Grenache, and also has its origins in the northeast of Spain where it is found in the blends from the Rioja.

Aromas: Rich mouthfeel with minerality, white peach, pear, and melon. Excellent acidity.
Body: medium to full
Color: golden yellow

From their website: Nestled among boutique shops & restaurants, the Consilience tasting room is located on Grand Avenue in the wine country town of Los Olivos, California. The philosophy at Consilience has been to not only create expressive, reliably high quality wines, but also to put that wine in the bottle for a reasonable price that is far below what comparable quality wines would cost.

This vibrant 2006 vintage of our Grenache Blanc is predominantly from the Camp 4 vineyard in Los Olivos in the Santa Ynez Valley. Camp 4 is the newest addition to the Fess Parker family of vineyards. Located in the Santa Ynez Valley it is just southwest of he winery. The 1,400-acre piece of land was purchased in 1999 and the initial planting of 250 acres produced its first crop 2003. This vineyard experiences a warmer climate. Camp 4 is currently planted to 25 acres of Grenache, 10 acres of Mourvedre, 15 acres of Roussanne, 130 acres of Syrah and 25 acres of Viognier.

The cycle of cool mornings, warm days and return to cool evenings are what make this a prime growing area for the typical Rhone grape varieties. All factors make for a long growing season and maximal flavor development. Barrel fermented in older French and American oak, this Grenache Blanc proudly exhibits well rounded aromatics of caramel apple with that fresh from the orchard scent and crispness on the palate.

Eat with: quiche Lorraine, green salad, matchstick frites.

http://www.consiliencewines.com/

2007 Graves Grenache Blanc, "Monkey Wrench", Paso Robles

This wine has a touch of residual sugar but is nicely balanced with great acidity. It is lovingly named Monkey Wrench because it is a pain to make. They use only natural yeasts so it often has a stuck fermentation leaving a touch of sugar left. When there is enough acid and lively fruit to balance it out, they choose to let nature win and leave the wine as is.

Aromas: floral, lemon, pear, spice, burst of juiciness on the palate.
Body: medium to full
Color: yellow

Monkey Wrench" Grenache Blanc: the fruit was sourced from the west side of Paso, tank-fermented, green apple and citrus aromas, crisp acidity with some mineral notes

From the Grape Crusader’s Blog: Tasting Notes: “What a lively and unique wine. I love aromatic whites like gewurztraminer, viognier and grenache blanc. I love them for their uplifting and entrancing smells and I especially love them for their ability to always make the uninitiated say “wow!” The Graves Monkey Wrench is no exception. Very pretty floral aromas that float out of the glass. I smelled a lot of citrus smells as well as a hint of ginger and pikake (Hawaiian climbing jasmine plant noted for its fragrant flowers). Historically, grenache blanc has been widely grown in Spain and France. Only a smidgen currently exists in California. In the mouth were flavors of tangerine and apple as well as some mineral influence. I felt like you never really noticed an obvious acidic component in the wine, but you just knew there was one, because of the refreshed feeling your palate received after every sip. The texture was beautiful too as it was sort of a combination of juicy and silky. “

Winery Background: “This is a true artisan family winery built from the ground up. In fact, Hilary was 5 months pregnant when the vines were first planted in 2002. A little over 1,000 cases spread across four or five wines are produced. If I remember right, Hilary and Simon Graves bought the land for their vineyards in 1999, while they were both still in school studying viticulture and enology. They are completely hands on when it comes to farming their vineyard, but hands-off when making their wine. Although their operations are not certified organic, they do farm organically.”

Eat with: fig & arugula salad, toasted pecans, “Laura Chenel” chèvre, pancetta, fig & port vinaigrette

http://www.graveswinegrowers.com/